My 80 gallon electric water heater leaks and I have not been able to see from where. I ran the hot water and then looked for the leak with no luck. It may be from the bottom whereas the wooden platform is wet.
Is there a way to test the valves, would they leak all the time when cold?
Is the bottom of the tank a common place where the tank will leak in these water heaters?
How can I identify where the leak is coming from?
Yes. When they come to the end of their life, it is common for them to start leaking through the bottom where they tend to rust out. Unless this only a year or two old (and maybe leaking somewhere else), I would replace ASAP, before the weak spot bursts and your house or basement is flooded. While, here in Illinois, it is common to get 15 to 20 years out of a water heater, in Arizona, where I lived for a while, 7 years was more the average. And I heard many stories of people coming home from a weekend trip to find water running out under the garage or front door from a burst water heater.
Tom G.
While gas heaters often corrode thru the bottom, it is less likely on an electric model, esp if it is less than ~10 yrs old.
Turn the power off and then pull the inspection covers to look for evidence. Also inspect VERY closely around the drain valve. Some mfr's began using plastic valves which were known to crack and leak.
IOW, check everything before assuming the tank is leaking.
Jim
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