Help, help, pleeeeeeeease help, I have a major leak coming from the bottom of my hot water heater, specifically, from the right side, which is the cold water supply side. I turned off the hot water valve , but the water kept coming out at a rapid pace. I then shut off the cold water supply line coming into the water heater, and after a couple minutes the water stopped running out. I cleaned up the water, making sure that the area around the water heater was completely dry, I then turned on the hot water valve and no water was leaking, however, immediately after turning on the cold water supply line at the top of the water heater, the water started gushing out once more, thus causing me to shut things down. Is this a minor internal problem that can be repaired, or do I just buy a new water heater ? Oh! By the way, thanks for the advice that you gave me with the installation of my basement bathroom, toilet, and sink lines along with venting the bath, every thing worked to perfection. Look forward to haring from you.

Thank for the information Labman, however, in my haste to ask and receive a reply to the question, I neglected to say that the leak was specifically coming the bottom of the hot water heater and not the top, with that said, what do you recommend to sole this problem. I apologize for not being clear the first time. Thanks for the help.

Be very careful about shutting off the cold water to a water heater. Water needs to cycle in and out as the temperature cycles up and down. Normally it does through the inlet. Close it, and you must leave the outlet open and a hot water tap open. Also turn it to pilot or shut the electricity off.

Is the water leaking around where the cold water goes in? If so, it may be a simple fix. Remove the water pipe, examine it, clean it up, and wrap a couple of turns of Teflon tape around it. More isn't better. Start at the top and right to left on the side towards you. Then screw the pipe back in. Don't over tighten it. If it leaks again, then you can tighten it up more. If you don't see how to remove the water pipe, post back post back telling us what kind of piping you have, copper, PVC, XEPE, etc. If it is plastic, it should say on it.