Asked on Nov 03, 2015

I think my water heater died.

Louise
by Louise
But I'm not sure. We had a bunch of rain the last few days and there was some water seepage into my utility room. Yrs ago the same thing happened -- lots of rain and some water seeping into the garage and utility room. I thought it might be the washer so called a repairman and he said it's fine. The rain stopped. The water in the utility room was drying up. Then I did a wash. Afterwards, the room had lots of water and it's seeped some into the room next door and the garage. Previously, everything under the water heater was dry but now it's not. How can I tell if the water is from the water heater?
This is from the other day. Now there's a lot more water.
  17 answers
  • Marina Bottazzi Marina Bottazzi on Nov 04, 2015
    chiamerei l idraulico
    • Louise Louise on Nov 04, 2015
      @Marina Bottazzi Sorry, I have no idea what this means.
  • Luis Carlos Becker Luis Carlos Becker on Nov 04, 2015
    The same in my house... may boiller died and i need buy another ... simple
  • MArie S MArie S on Nov 04, 2015
    Presumably, your water heater supplies the rest of the house so leakage should continue/worsen even if you don't use your washer for a few more days (especially if you take a lot of showers). If the room starts to dry while you're not using the washer and it's not raining, then try to move out your washer and put something around it (? old towels) before using it again. If the barrier around the washer ends up soaked, the washer is at fault. Of course, the other possibility still is water getting in from outside.
  • Heartbeat Heartbeat on Nov 04, 2015
    It's probably your water heater they don't have a very long life due to sediment and calcified iron in the water
  • Do you see any rust on the bottom / if everything is off do you hear it filling - if yes to either go with new When is the last time you drained it? Drain it which will help remove said sediment but will also help clear away any leakage points making it easier to spot How old is it - if over 8 or 10 - might be best to replace it with a more efficient one anyways Gas or electric - make sure you place a pan around the new one - if done properly you won't have any doubts in the future? For draining: http://thehtrc.com/2010/basic-water-heater-maintenance-draining
  • Barbara C Barbara C on Nov 04, 2015
    You can and should grain your water heater once every year to clean out sediment and other deposits in the water.Mine has lasted 20 yrs. with care.Do you have hot water?the leak should show up somewhere around the water heater if that is the cause.
  • Pete Sakes Pete Sakes on Nov 04, 2015
    I agree with MArie S. I would think if it was the water heater it would still leak with showers, dishwasher use etc. It actually sounds as if you have a couple of problems. My first thoughts are rain water getting into the utility room when it rains and perhaps a washer leak. For the rain water make sure your gutters are clean and downspouts are running away from the house. You can add extensions if necessary so the water doesn't back track to the house. Since you had more water after running the washing machine I'd pull the washer out a bit, turn it on and watch for leaks as it cycles through each step. Pay close attention to the area where the washer connects to the water source, it could be you just need to replace a .27 cent gasket which is something the repairman may not have even thought to check. I know it's down right aggravating to know there is a leak somewhere but not know where.
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Nov 04, 2015
    It sounds like a drainage issue. Most likely when the washer is draining. You need to stay and watch for the length of the load. Keeping an eye for water coming from around the bottoms of everything. But definitely sounds like clogged drain line!
  • Connie Mar Connie Mar on Nov 04, 2015
    Is there a drain in the floor that might be clogged? The washer would empty into that drain as well. Am concerned that this has happened before with heavy rain, sounds more like there are landscaping drainage issues on your property, or lack of gutters, poorly placed downspout drains, or something else that is causing this seepage. Some homes need french drains placed around the perimeter of the house with a sump pump inside to pump out excess water with heavy rain (our house has one). I really don't think this is your water heater, or there would be a lot more water! On a side thought, am thinking your kitties are not happy about having their litter boxes in a lake!
  • Sharyn Diaz Sharyn Diaz on Nov 04, 2015
    Sounds like a drain problem as Hope said. I had the same issue and water was backing up the drain pipe and gushing out the top past the hose...the water on my basement floor was a bit sudsy so I knew where it was coming from. I got a router man in to fix it. Good luck.
    • See 1 previous
    • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Nov 08, 2015
      Perfect. Your moving in the right direction. Start eliminating things one by one until you get to the problem. You can check the pipe where your washer drains into. Make sure it's to adequate height, then be sure it does not overflow when the washer forces the water into the pipe. It's free if you check it! 😃 Keep us posted on your progress!
  • Donnie Springer Donnie Springer on Nov 04, 2015
    hook up a hose to the fitting of the hot water tank * turn off water supply to tank first :) * and see how well it drains out and how much gunk is in it. On top of the water eater there is a big looking Hex bolt head This is the Anode normally if wires are attached don't' touch it that would be the heating element If you pull the Hexbolt out and there is nothing attached to it. * like a long silver rod* or its very well "rotted" away you have a good chance the bottom of your tank has a hole in it. You could open the bottom inspection plate on the tank feel the insulation if it feels damp you found your problem. some times you can look through the panel to the botom and see if can spot water..
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Nov 04, 2015
    I had this happen in the very first home we had, the drain pipes to the main line where over taken by roots in this older neighborhood. I hate water heater problems.
  • Louise Louise on Nov 04, 2015
    A plumber came out today and it's not the heater. It's a stopped up drain. He didn't have his large auger on the truck and used my snake but it wasn't long enough so he's coming over early in the morning Thursday. He said any water in the house that goes down a drain will end up in the utility room, so I'm sleeping at a neighbor's house tonight. What a horror show!!!! BUT my WH was installed in 1996, so I need to start making plans to replace it before it does go to pieces.
    • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Nov 08, 2015
      Yay!!!!!! So happy you found it! It looks like Hometalk worked for you! Happy happy for you Louise!!!!!
  • HouseLogic.com HouseLogic.com on Nov 05, 2015
    Here are a few posts that will help you determine what's the deal with your water heater: http://goo.gl/2DNbHN and here's another: http://goo.gl/Wne8m4
  • Louise Louise on Dec 01, 2015
    This problem was fixed. RotoRooter found a clog in the line to the street, pushed it out and then the county came out, dug up stuff and removed roots from their side of the lines.
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 05, 2020

    Good to see your problem was solved. If you ever replace your water heater, I recommend put an insulating pad and then a drain pan under the heater. The insulation will help with costs and the drain pan will catch any WH leaks. It also will keep heater out of floods from other causes.

  • Louise Louise on Dec 05, 2020

    Thanks, but this message is very old. I have a new water heater now.