[Xanador44]

Whirlpool Electrical Water Heater.
Model no. MHE2F30HS035V

The insulation between the tank and the outer metal lining is wet. (Below the lower access panel).
There is no visible exterior leak or water on the floor.
The water heater is on a dual 20 breaker.
The lower access panel has an element and two small black boxes above it wired up.
The upper access panel has nothing in it but what looks like a fitting for another heating element. Nothing is leaking from this fitting.

Am I completely out of luck? Or is there any possible solution to this problem?
Thank you in advance for any possible advice, If any additional information is required I will supply it to the best of my ability.

[Xanador44]

The insulation between the tank and the outer metal lining is wet. (Below the lower access panel).

The water is brown and dirty looking.

[hkstroud]

Sorry but you have a leaking tank. Have to replace heater.

[torilexington]

One of the ways that I fixed this problem was to get water heater insulation wraps. I had a leak in a heater and once you have a leak you have to replace it. Unless you want to fix the leak and than keep dealing with problems. I found a water heater company to put a brand new wrap around my water heater. The reason why you get cracks or leaks is because your heater goes from cold to hot depending on the temperature inside and outside the tank. For me mine cracked in the winter. With the new wraps I now don't have to worry about the temperature and can go as hot as I want.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Tori

Sorry, but the information you posted is total BUNK! The fact is that all water heaters are so highly insulated that there is almost zero percent heat loss through the tank, so there is no fluctuation in temperature like you are presenting here. If you doubt this, touch the tank of your water heater and you will see that it is completely cool and there is no (almost zero) heat loss through the tank itself.

Instead, a water heaters greatest heat loss is through the hot water pipes (for 10 linear feet.. after that heat loss is considered negligible), the cold water pipe (for 2-3 feet if a heat trap nipple is installed), and through the T&P valve. Here, insulating this stuff can save a few dollars, but it will NOT have any effect on the water heater lasting longer or not!

The fact that your water heater cracked during the winter months speaks to the fact that the ANODE ROD was spent, the porcelain liner was cracked, and the extreme difference in water temperature (from hot in tank vs cold water coming into your heater) was finally just too much for your tank and it leaked. This will still happen even if you have an insulating blanket over the tank... it will just take time, much like your old heater, I'm sure!

Anyway, I am sorry if you were mislead by anyone and purchased something that will NOT be helpful to you in the long run. However, with that being said, if you are really interested in extending the life of your water heater you will want to flush the tank periodically and you should probably change the anode rod every 3-4 years. Changing the anode rod will guarantee a longer tank life...not an insulation blanket!

Good luck!

Mark