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-   -   Water heater flooded the garage (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=129565)

  • Sep 14, 2007, 10:43 AM
    jewelsmariee
    Water heater flooded the garage
    :confused: Yesterday the day was normal, didn't use the water much just for bathroom and hand washing. Before bed my mother went to wash out her glass and noticed there was no water pressure. When she went to check the water tank she noticed the water spewing out of the tank and flooding our garage, she had to turn off the water to the tank to get the water to stop coming out and the power because there was a strange noise coming from it. The water was coming from the spout (sort of just leaking) but the main problem was from a hole that is sort of next to the spout, I'm not sure what that hole is for or why it is there, it was projectile water coming from there. The water heater is pretty old but we don't know what is wrong with it to just randomly flood us out.

    Please help!:( :confused:
  • Sep 14, 2007, 11:18 AM
    dean
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jewelsmariee
    :confused: Yesterday the day was normal, didn't use the water much just for bathroom and hand washing. Before bed my mother went to wash out her glass and noticed there was no water pressure. When she went to check the water tank she noticed the water spewing out of the tank and flooding our garage, she had to turn off the water to the tank to get the water to stop coming out and the power because there was a strange noise coming from it. The water was coming from the spout (sort of just leaking) but the main problem was from a hole that is sort of next to the spout, im not sure what that hole is for or why it is there, it was projectile water coming from there. The water heater is pretty old but we don't know what is wrong with it to just randomly flood us out.

    Please help!:( :confused:

    It happens normally. Water heaters just rust out eventually. They can't be repaired. At least it was in your garage, not your kitchen. Time for a new one. Plumber should haul the old one away. For now, turn off the water supply to the heater. There should be a shut off valve on the cold water pipe that comes into the heater, usually on top, usually labeled. And turn off the heater with the temp control knob.
  • Sep 14, 2007, 02:00 PM
    KISS
    There are water heater drain pans available which can channel the water somewhere and there are systems such as Water-cop which when used with a sensor will automatically stop the water flow.

    Water heaters die about every 12 years or so. Mainly because the tank springs a leak.

    At a minimum, we turn the water heater to pilot during extended abcenses. As the water heater ages say from 8 years+, the hot water gets turned completely off.

    One time we got somewhat lucky. We were away and the hot water line broke under the cement floor. Since the heater was on pilot, there was no additional energy bill. There was no visible water in the house either. You learn the hard way.

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