Water Heater Problem. PLEASE HELP!

[Meghan]

Okay. Here's what happened. Our water got cut off due to payment not being received on time. Well, of course, it caused our element to break. Thinking it's the (control box?) with the temp setting and the reset button, we go to Lowes and buy a new one. That doesn't work. So, we drain the water heater (which by the way is from the 80's) and we install a new element. Everything is great, it works, and we get our first HOT shower in weeks. However, my husband wakes up at 2 am and goes down to check on it. The carpet around the washer dryer closet (thats where the water heater is located) is soaking wet. So, I tell him to try to tighten the element somemore (it's a screw in, not a bolt-on) and he does, and we go back to sleep. This morning at 5:30am when I wake up to go to work, the carpet is STILL wet, and I think getting worse.

PLEASE tell me what we did wrong, and how we can fix it without having to spend the money that we don't have to buy a new one. I'm desperate here.

[Mike Swearingen]

Of course, turn OFF the breaker in the panel anytime that you're working on your electric water heater.
The first thing to determine is if the rubber gasket of the element is leaking, or if it's the element fitting welded to the tank, or if it's the tank itself.
If the tank or the welded element fitting is leaking, I'm afraid that the only solution is to replace the water heater. (A 1980's water heater is pretty old.)
If it's the gasket leaking, he can try to use a cheater pipe on the handle of a pipe wrench to tighten it in better to see if that won't stop it. He also can add 2-3 flat wraps of teflon tape wrapped clockwise only on the element threads as the element end faces him.
Good Luck!
Mike

[Meghan]

Won't tape catch on fire?

[majakdragon]

Teflon tape will not catch fire. It also will not melt in your heater.It's easier and less messy to use than pipe dope and you don't have to worry about contaminating your water.