I purchased a home a couple months ago, the water heater was not heating, I
replaced the top element & that fixed the problem. lately (every now & then)
this think leaks from somewhere.. my wife said it was doing it late last
night. coming from the area around the upper element, under the jacket, she
didn't remove the cover, so I am not sure where it was coming from, I
haven't been able to see a leak anywhere, it doesn't sound like a tank leak
since it is not all the time. Anyone ever deal with anything like this?
Thanks
Rob

longshot wrote:
I purchased a home a couple months ago, the water heater was not
heating, I replaced the top element & that fixed the problem. lately
(every now & then) this think leaks from somewhere.. my wife said it
was doing it late last night. coming from the area around the upper
element, under the jacket, she didn't remove the cover, so I am not
sure where it was coming from, I haven't been able to see a leak
anywhere, it doesn't sound like a tank leak since it is not all the
time. Anyone ever deal with anything like this? Thanks
Rob

It could be the element leaking, but the usual "leaking" from a water
heater is from the PT valve. If the heat gets a little high or if the
pressure goes a little high it will "vent." Normally you will find this
near the top of the tank with a pipe extending down to within a few inches
of the floor. The "leak" comes out from the end of that pipe. If this is
the case, it could be your temperatures is set too high, or the pressure is
going to high (usually a combo of no expansion tank and a pressure reduction
or anti siphon valve on the inlet) or the valve is defective.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

"longshot" wrote in message
news:Rev4e.2888$g65.1295@attbi_s52...
I purchased a home a couple months ago, the water heater was not heating,
I
replaced the top element & that fixed the problem. lately (every now &
then)
this think leaks from somewhere.. my wife said it was doing it late last
night. coming from the area around the upper element, under the jacket,
she
didn't remove the cover, so I am not sure where it was coming from, I
haven't been able to see a leak anywhere, it doesn't sound like a tank
leak
since it is not all the time. Anyone ever deal with anything like this?
Thanks
Rob

If it wasn't heating at all before it needs more than the top element
replaced. If the tank is old, just replace the whole water heater. There is
no way it only needed a top element to completely fix it. If you want to
squeeze a few more years out of this one, then I suggest (if it'll fit)
swapping the top and bottom elements. It is the bottom element that keeps
the whole tank hot. The top element is there to heat the top part of the
tank (only) more quickly if you use all the hot water in the tank. If you
only have the top element working, then you should notice a very short
duration of hot water. My guess is you'll have enough hot water for about 5
minutes in the shower.

Many heaters from the 70's only had an element in the bottom of the tank. It
is the only one that is really necessary.

I had a chance to look at it , the upper element was fried, there was a hole
clear through the wiring part. I think it must have gotten electricity to it
when it was dry. I have had the water off & on as I was working on stuff...
chalk it up to learning something new.