Hello,

I woke up this morning to my hot water tank leaking out of the hose that runs down the side of it. My tank looks newer but, I think it's a 98 model, I've only lived there for 3 years. Anyway, it never leaked before and I find it strange that the hose doe's not lead to a drain? Should I extend the hose to where the water softner drains into? If I don't and this happens again, I'll have water everywhere. I shut off the water going to the tank and I released the preasure valve then it eventually stopped. I need to fix it after work and I'm wondering what to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you!

Chuck

Hey Chuck,
Do you have a sprinkler system? Is there a backflow preventer installed out next too the water meter? Is there a check valve installed on the cold water supply of the heater? Back to you Chuck, Tom

You wrote hose but I believe that is most likely a galvanized pipe of white cpvc. If it runs down the side of your tank to near the floor it is your emergency pressure release valve. It could be defective or your tank may have too much pressure. Lets assume for now it's a bad valve. Do not extend this pipe to the softner drain, you'll just hide the problem. Water supply off, fuel source closed, drain a few gallons of water from the drain spigot at the bottom of the tank. Unscrew the pipe from the valve and then unscrew the valve from the tank. Some are on top and some are on the side. Take that valve to the store a buy one with the same shape depending on top or side mount. When you install the new valve use white teflon tape on both in/out threads of the valve. Refill the tank, bleed air out of the lines and reconnect the fuel. 99% of the time you are back in business. If the new valve starts to leak, kill the fuel and get back to us asap.

Listen to Tom. Something made the valve release. They seldom go bad that soon. Once they do release, they often get lime in them and do have to be replaced. The new one won't last long if you don't eliminate the cause too.

It is possible the city slipped by and stuck a back flow preventer on your water meter without telling you that you then need to instal an expansion tank. To accommodate the heating and cooling of the water in the tank, water has to free to flow in and out of the tank. In the past, no problem, but now public water systems are requiring back flow preventers.

The good news is that an expansion tank is no big deal. You can pick one up at Lowe's and instal it yourself, just tee off between the tank and any shutoff valve. Until you get it fixed, put a bucket under the hose.

Hey Tom,

I'm not sure if your getting my emails or not so I'm just placing it in the body of this text. I don't have a sprinkler system, I haven't notice anything being installed outside by the city etc.. Should I replace the valve on top of the tank?

I would replace the T&P valve and if it doesn't help the situation I would install a expansion tank on the cold water supply. Regards, Tom