I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally I
forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off for about 18hrs.
When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle under the water heater. It
was dripping from what I believe is the drain valve. It's a white plastic
threaded fitting similar to the one in this pic and located in about the
same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but then it
started leaking from inside. You can see and hear the tsssss tsssss as the
water droplets hit the burning gas element. I did not know enough at that
point to look for rust on the interior. Does this sound like a tank leak,
and if so, is it true that there is no way to fix it.

Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I lit the pilot?

On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:54:00 -0600, "Ken_W" wrote:

I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally I
forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off for about 18hrs.
When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle under the water heater. It
was dripping from what I believe is the drain valve. It's a white plastic
threaded fitting similar to the one in this pic and located in about the
same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but then it

This leak stopped. Maybe the other one will stop when the water gets
hot. It's worth waiting to find out.

started leaking from inside. You can see and hear the tsssss tsssss as the
water droplets hit the burning gas element. I did not know enough at that
point to look for rust on the interior. Does this sound like a tank leak,
and if so, is it true that there is no way to fix it.

Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I lit the pilot?

Lots of weirdo things happen in this world that I can't account for,
even when they happen right here. IOW, who knows!

Ken_W wrote:
I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally I
forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off for about 18hrs.
When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle under the water heater. It
was dripping from what I believe is the drain valve. It's a white plastic
threaded fitting similar to the one in this pic and located in about the
same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but then it
started leaking from inside. You can see and hear the tsssss tsssss as the
water droplets hit the burning gas element. I did not know enough at that
point to look for rust on the interior. Does this sound like a tank leak,
and if so, is it true that there is no way to fix it.

Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I lit the pilot?



When the water in the tank is cold, the moisture from the combustion of
the gas will condense on the heat exchanger that goes through the water
heater and it drip back down and land on the burner producing a sizzling
sound. The condensation should stop once things warm up. If it continues
after 30 minutes to an hour, you may have a leak. The leak at the valve
probably stopped because the rubber seal and other materials around the
valve expanded after getting warm. I don't think there are any
supernatural forces involved even though it may seem as though your
water heater is possessed.

TDD

The Daring Dufas wrote:
Ken_W wrote:
I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally
I forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off
for about 18hrs. When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle
under the water heater. It was dripping from what I believe is the
drain valve. It's a white plastic threaded fitting similar to the
one in this pic and located in about the same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but
then it started leaking from inside. You can see and hear the
tsssss tsssss as the water droplets hit the burning gas element. I
did not know enough at that point to look for rust on the interior. Does
this sound like a tank leak, and if so, is it true that there
is no way to fix it. Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I
lit the pilot?



When the water in the tank is cold, the moisture from the combustion
of the gas will condense on the heat exchanger that goes through the
water heater and it drip back down and land on the burner producing a
sizzling sound. The condensation should stop once things warm up. If
it continues after 30 minutes to an hour, you may have a leak. The
leak at the valve probably stopped because the rubber seal and other
materials around the valve expanded after getting warm. I don't think
there are any supernatural forces involved even though it may seem as
though your water heater is possessed.

TDD

Thanks for the info, I hope that is the case. The water heater is my
Mother's so I'll have to check it tomorrow. I have a pan there for the time
being.

On Dec 23, 7:49*am, "Ken_W" wrote:
The Daring Dufas wrote:
Ken_W wrote:
I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally
I forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off
for about 18hrs. When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle
under the water heater. *It was dripping from what I believe is the
drain valve. *It's a white plastic threaded fitting similar to the
one in this pic and located in about the same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but
then it started leaking from inside. *You can see and hear the
tsssss tsssss as the water droplets hit the burning gas element. *I
did not know enough at that point to look for rust on the interior. Does
this sound like a tank leak, and if so, is it true that there
is no way to fix it. Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I
lit the pilot?

When the water in the tank is cold, the moisture from the combustion
of the gas will condense on the heat exchanger that goes through the
water heater and it drip back down and land on the burner producing a
sizzling sound. The condensation should stop once things warm up. If
it continues after 30 minutes to an hour, you may have a leak. The
leak at the valve probably stopped because the rubber seal and other
materials around the valve expanded after getting warm. I don't think
there are any supernatural forces involved even though it may seem as
though your water heater is possessed.

TDD

Thanks for the info, I hope that is the case. *The water heater is my
Mother's so I'll have to check it tomorrow. *I have a pan there for the time
being.

The question no one has asked is how old is the water heater. If
it's 10 years+ old, I'd replace it. That is a typical lifespan. Of
course a lot depends on where it's located. If it's in a basement
area with nothing in it and a nearby sump the potential for disaster
is small compared to sitting in a basement full of stuff with no means
for the water to drain away if it suddenly goes. And when they go
they can go from no leak or just a small leak to a major flood in a
flash.

"Ken_W" wrote in message
...
I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. Naturally I
forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off for about 18hrs.
When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle under the water heater. It
was dripping from what I believe is the drain valve. It's a white plastic
threaded fitting similar to the one in this pic and located in about the
same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but then
it started leaking from inside. You can see and hear the tsssss tsssss as
the water droplets hit the burning gas element. I did not know enough at
that point to look for rust on the interior. Does this sound like a tank
leak, and if so, is it true that there is no way to fix it.

Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I lit the pilot?
My take on that is the drain valve may have some hard water scale in it
preventing a proper seal. Either way...worse case scenerio that plastic
drain can be replaced... Just shut off the gas, shut the water main down,
open all your taps in the house, drain the tank and replace the valve with
a new one, then turn on your water supply and turn the gas on and light
your pilot light after you get water coming out of the hot side of your
taps (that'll signify the tank is full)... Jim

On Dec 23, 3:16*am, The Daring Dufas
wrote:
Ken_W wrote:
I had to turn the gas off temporarily, then turned it back on. *Naturally I
forgot to re-light the water heater pilot and it was off for about 18hrs.
When I finally went to do that, I saw a puddle under the water heater. *It
was dripping from what I believe is the drain valve. *It's a white plastic
threaded fitting similar to the one in this pic and located in about the
same place:

http://media.rd.com/dynamic/88/77/84...er-2_size2.jpg

After lighting the pilot, the leak from the drain valve stopped, but then it
started leaking from inside. *You can see and hear the tsssss tsssss as the
water droplets hit the burning gas element. *I did not know enough at that
point to look for rust on the interior. *Does this sound like a tank leak,
and if so, is it true that there is no way to fix it.

Why would the leak from the drain valve stop when I lit the pilot?

When the water in the tank is cold, the moisture from the combustion of
the gas will condense on the heat exchanger that goes through the water
heater and it drip back down and land on the burner producing a sizzling
sound. The condensation should stop once things warm up. If it continues
after 30 minutes to an hour, you may have a leak. The leak at the valve
probably stopped because the rubber seal and other materials around the
valve expanded after getting warm. I don't think there are any
supernatural forces involved even though it may seem as though your
water heater is possessed.

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I have had exactly that experience.