I suddenly have a leak at the top of the unit coming from a hexagon bolt type fixture! Just had it serviced for winter, cleaned and checked, last week! There is a 6 year warranty on the unit and it is only three years old. Shut off water valve to the unit and drained the water from the fixture at the bottom of the unit until no more water would flow. Got about 1/2 a pail worth of water. Checked on the unit again and the same leaking is happening! Went through the same steps of draining the water from the bottom fixture 3x now! Why is this happening to begin with and how do I stop the leak until I get a technician out here? Thank you.
Rose

Hot water tank leaking on top through a hexagon bolt type fixture. I shut the water off, turned off pilot light and drained water from the fixture located toward the bottom of the tank. The amount of water that came out was a 1/2 bucket full. I closed this fixture and shortly thereafter, the same thing with the leaking through that hexagon bolt fixture on top of the tank was leaking! How do I stop this reoccuring leakage and also, why is this happening; can it be fixed??
Thank you,
Rose

You should call the technician back immediately, as it may be as simple as tightening the bolt, no telling, but there should be no reason for anything less than an immediate response. Did you try tightening the bolt on top?

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Originally Posted by talaniman

You should call the technician back immediately, as it may be as simple as tightening the bolt, no telling, but there should be no reason for anything less than an immediate response. Did you try tightening the bolt on top?

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Yes, I do have a wrench! Lol! I will give it a try and tighten that bolt! Thank you so much! I have no clue of problems or how to approach a solution with this item! I don't have my good ol dad anymore to call who would guide me through ANY problems I had!!
I appreciate your response! Thank you so much! I'll let you know if that's the solution! 😃

I hope it is that simple, however turn off the water supply first as a precaution just in case it's NOT so simple.

The bolt won't budge!

The bolt won't budge!!

I'm not a plumber, but if this is still in warranty, any work you do on it may void your warranty. Time to call for service.

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Originally Posted by Wrinky

The bolt won't budge!

The bolt won't budge!!

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You tried, call the tech. It ain't so simple. Should be for the tech though.

The hex nut you are referring to is the anode rod. An anode rod is a sacrificial rod immersed in the water to reduce corrosion in the tank. These have a fine thread and are screwed quite tightly. Takes quite a bit of force to break the loose after a period of time. You will never move it with a wrench. Use a 6 point socket and a 1/2" breaker bar to tighten

I have never heard of one of these leaking unless someone replaced it and didn't properly tighten the replacement. In other words, I have never heard of one of these leaking from the factory. Further more, to start leaking after 3 years, is very strange indeed.

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Just had it serviced for winter, cleaned and checked, last week!

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I am a very suspicious person. Was that done under some service maintenance contract? Will its repair come under the contract or will it be for a fee?

Then there is the "Anything can happen" category of life.
The fitting that the anode rod screws into is welded to the tank. That weld could have broken loose and the leak is occurring not from the anode rod but from the weld. Tank leaks almost always occur at welds. While this does come under the "any thing can happen " category it is most likely what has happened and should be covered under the tank warranty.

I agree with Hkstroud this can be the Anode rod, the anode rod is attached to the Hex nut and it requires 1 1/16" socket and it is very tight you will need a breaker bar and have some one to hold the tank.

To remove the anode shut the water to the water heater drain approx. 5 gal water now try to remove it with the proper tool and help from some one, when it is removed inspect the anode rod and the fitting for any crack or corrosion if every thing is good clean the threads apply some Teflon tape, install and check for leak, if you have further problem contact the Rheem tech support at 800-431-1549 or 800-432-8373 have your model number and Serial number ready before you call them, also I have attached a PFD file please open it for more information, good luck.

John

Tinkering around on your own may void your warranty, and cost more than its worth, so make the call FIRST to your Hotpoint tech, and then decide what you should do after you get the facts.

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Originally Posted by Wrinky

The bolt won't budge!

The bolt won't budge!!

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A Friend is coming over to look at the water tank. Called the plumber and he wants $100-150 dollars to replace the seal on the hexagon nut thing (if that's the problem)!

Once you remove the hexagon nut you will see what the problem is normally the anode rod does not fail soon, thanks.

John

Thank you so much everyone for your input!! It is greatly appreciated, especially John, (afaroo)! The PDF file attachment is very informative and helpful with everything I need to understand my tank better and info on who to call to fix the problem! 😄
Cant ask for anything more than that! 😃
Have a great day everyone!
Rose

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

The hex nut you are referring to is the anode rod. An anode rod is a sacrificial rod immersed in the water to reduce corrosion in the tank. These have a fine thread and are screwed quite tightly. Takes quite a bit of force to break the loose after a period of time. You will never move it with a wrench. Use a 6 point socket and a 1/2" breaker bar to tighten

I have never heard of one of these leaking unless someone replaced it and didn't properly tighten the replacement. In other words, I have never heard of one of these leaking from the factory. Further more, to start leaking after 3 years, is very strange indeed.


I am a very suspicious person. Was that done under some service maintenance contract? Will its repair come under the contract or will it be for a fee?

Then there is the "Anything can happen" category of life.
The fitting that the anode rod screws into is welded to the tank. That weld could have broken loose and the leak is occurring not from the anode rod but from the weld. Tank leaks almost always occur at welds. While this does come under the "any thing can happen " category it is most likely what has happened and should be covered under the tank warranty.

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The he check and clean of the hot water tank is through the Nicor Home Solutions program. And no, they don't do plumbing repairs and referred me to someone and yes, I will have to pay a fee! There was only an1!year warranty on parts!
Thank you also for all your helpful knowledge! 😄 Rose

Reading John's PDF on yearly maintenance.

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The anode rod should be removed from the water heater's
tank annually for inspection

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I was a bit surprised to see removal and inspection as a part of yearly maintenance.
If this was done, as recommended by the manufacturer, then it is quite likely that the technician simply did not properly tighten the anode rod.
So, if the technician removed and inspected the anode rod he should return and correct the leak.

Your question to Nicor Home Solutions should be, "Is inspection of the anode rod part of the your yearly maintenance program?"


PS
Be sure your friend uses a 6 point socket when attempting to tighten the anode rod. Anything else and you risking damaging it and then you will have a very difficult time removing it.

Hello Hkstroud,

I have a Whirlpool gas water heater model #NU50T121-403 installed in 5 years ago and I do the anode rod inspection almost every year haven't have any problem with it, I agree with you may be the technician have not tighten it properly.

Rose before you do any thing please try to tighten the hexagon nut and see if the leak stops, if that will not help will suggest to remove, clean the threads and apply some Teflon tape and install, as Hkstroud says use a 6 pint 1 1/16" socket, good luck.

John