have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week, there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

--

__________________________
Totus Tuus
Claudia
OblSB ~ St. Andrews Abbey
www.valyermo.com

Claudia wrote:

have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week, there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

Put a bucket below the relief valve outlet/pipe to see if the
water is from there.

If the water *is* coming from the relief, very likely you need
a thermal expansion tank and the heater is not failing.
More info:
http://www.flexconind.com/html/wh-series_.html


Jim

already thought of that one - and the water on the floor was not from the
relief valve, but was still on the floor, assuming overflow from the stand.

that is what is making me crazy - thanks to all of youse guys, I have become
pretty darn good at trouble shooting home repairs.

__________________________
Totus Tuus
Claudia
OblSB ~ St. Andrews Abbey
www.valyermo.com
"Speedy Jim" wrote in message ...
Claudia wrote:

have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week,
there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the
time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER
seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

Put a bucket below the relief valve outlet/pipe to see if the
water is from there.

If the water *is* coming from the relief, very likely you need
a thermal expansion tank and the heater is not failing.
More info:
http://www.flexconind.com/html/wh-series_.html


Jim

Claudia wrote:
have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week, there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

Hi,
Take the warning sign and replace it before it becomes bigger problem.
Tony

Tony Hwang wrote:
Claudia wrote:

have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week,
there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the
time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER
seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

Hi,
Take the warning sign and replace it before it becomes bigger problem.


This has my vote. A water heater that's lasted 12 years has lasted
longer than expected. You have the equiv of a 20 year old cat.
But without the happy feelings for it.

Get a new tankless water heaters (about 1/4 more efficient) - less
space, lasts longer than most heaters. Hardly a new technology, just
a little new-ish to americans.

Trust me, it SUCKS to have to replace a water heater RIGHT NOW.
A friend went through this when his "gave out" the day before
a trip, with renters. In the winter.

You have the joy of a couple weeks notice.

It's 14 years old and you have a home warranty? Never heard of a
warranty that long on anything. But if it really is under waranty
then the tech is wrong. It leaks and is bad (assuming that it isn't
leaking from the drain valve). If they don't want to fix it then do
it yourself; it will be a lot cheaper to buy and install a $140-250
heater than clean up the mess and the damage when that thing let's
go.

Claudia wrote:

have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week, there is
water on the platform below the heater and on the floor. NOT all the time.
So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll have to wait till it
fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he" (age 22 +/-) has NEVER seen a
WH do that. Am I crazy? What else should I be looking for? anyway to
predict WH failure - other than Murphy's law?

--

__________________________
Totus Tuus
Claudia
OblSB ~ St. Andrews Abbey
www.valyermo.com

On the one hand, I agree with everyone who says to replace it; a 14 year old
WH is too old to screw with. On the other hand, a WH cannot leak
intermittently, which is why the warranty guy is confused. It either has a
hole, or it doesn't.

All I can think is that your t&p valve is not functional and occasionally
the pressure gets way too high and forces a leak that doesn't occure at
normal pressure. (I had an improperly soldered valve at 92psi that is just
fine after after i put a pressure reducer on. Same idea.) Do you test the
valve periodically as required? If not, it could be crudded shut.

Could a fitting be leaking , Turn up the temp to see if it is heat-
pressure related.
14 yrs is old, get a Bosch or Takagi gas tankless my savings are 50%.+
Tanks loose efficiency as scale builds on the bottom tankless dont
loose and last up to 30 yrs.

Claudia wrote:
have 14 yr old gas WH. at different times throughout the day/week,
there is water on the platform below the heater and on the floor.
NOT all the time. So the home warranty company says "Too Bad, you'll
have to wait till it fails." the tech thinks I am crazy since "he"
(age 22 +/-) has NEVER seen a WH do that. Am I crazy? What else
should I be looking for? anyway to predict WH failure - other than
Murphy's law?

While I would not bet on it. Occasionally condensation can be mistaken
for a leak.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"toller" wrote in message ...
On the one hand, I agree with everyone who says to replace it; a 14 year old
WH is too old to screw with. On the other hand, a WH cannot leak
intermittently, which is why the warranty guy is confused. It either has a
hole, or it doesn't.

I disagree. Not often, by any means, but the expansion and
contraction of heating the tank with heat (fire - gas) can expand or
contract a weakness in the tank, causing it to leak...or not leak.

I would suspect that relief valve also, but if you're convinced that
can't be the problem, then I would suspect a leaky tank.

I would replace it as soon as possible, especially considering the age
of the WH.