My hot water heater has water at the bottom?

[jim123]

Walking down the hall way this morning I walked by the hot water heater closet and could hera water running. Opened the door and there was a small pudle around the base. Checked for hot water at the kitchen sink and had none. I cut everything off to the heater assumming it went out on me? Am I right?

[majakdragon]

If it's gas, the water (whereever it came from,) could have doused the pilot light. Can't figure out why you would hear running water though. Unless your pressure/temperature relief valve opened and stayed open. Is there a pipe going from the T/P valve to outside? This may be the running water.Check all connections and the pressure relief valve for leaks at the threads. Good luck.

[jim123]

It is a gas water heater and the water was seemed to actualy be inside the tank but I could see it dripping and hitting the bottom by looking at the place that has the peice that lifts out to light the pilot light. It was then running to the outside of the water heater. I cut off the gas and the water going to it and that stoped the running water noise I was hearing? Does this help?

[majakdragon]

As said before, check all the threaded connections for leaks. If you don't find any, it is probably a leak in the tank itself and cannot be repaired.

[Trying2Help]

Sounds like Dragon was on the money in his first post.

Turn the water back on and check the TP valve on the side of the heater. Open and close it several times, it may be stuck open. You should be able to "feel" the water going through the pipe if this is the case. Assuming here that the valve is plumbed to the outside of your house.......or you could just go outside and look for a large wet spot if it had been running that long there should be a puddle at the outlet end.