Water Heaters - Gas Water Heater - Leaking from top

I turned on the fawcet in the kitchen yesterday when I noticed that there was no hot water.

I went down to the basement and there was water all over the floor. I looked at the water heater and water was dripping (a lot) out of the top. It seems the water is coming from the vent at the top.

It's a gas water heater. I shut off the water and the gas until I can get this figured out.

I tried the pressure release valve and I tried draining the tank a bit but the problem occurs again when I turn the water back on .... any ideas what can be causing this? :wall:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6974/2008qc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Please, any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

You said coming out the vent? You mean where the fumes are exhausted to the outside? Unless you have some sort of visible broken pipe or connection, it probably means the tank has failed.

Time for a new WH.

You said coming out the vent? You mean where the fumes are exhausted to the outside? Unless you have some sort of visible broken pipe or connection, it probably means the tank has failed.

Time for a new WH.

Thanks for the super quick response!

Yeah, it seems the water is coming from the vent I'm not sure what the deal is here - there's no alternative explanation other than the tank being busted in this case? :(

Well, now I can see your pic. All I can think is that water is spraying up into your vent. You should be able to see/hear it somewhere.

Can't imagine how water would be coming down the vent.

Turn the WH off (gas supply), take the vent piping off and then turn the water on (not the gas) and look down into the top of the heater.

Well, now I can see your pic. All I can think is that water is spraying up into your vent. You should be able to see/hear it somewhere.

Can't imagine how water would be coming down the vent.

Turn the WH off (gas supply), take the vent piping off and then turn the water on (not the gas) and look down into the top of the heater.

I'll try this when I get home - about 2.5 hours :(
I'll post back here then, I might take some pictures at that point to help illustrate the problem...thanks again for the prompt replies!

Alrighty - I removed the vent at the top, took a look in - when I turned the water on, it started shooting out of a tiny hole right near the top, that's why the water looked like it was shooting up out of the exhaust shaft/vent. I'll get someone to tac the hole, should be all set! Thanks for the help!

Nope..yer not all set. If its leaking out a pipe , that part needs to be replaced. If its not on the pipe, and actually shooting out into the central area of the heater, you need a new WH.

You can't repair a WH tank.

Nope..yer not all set. If its leaking out a pipe , that part needs to be replaced. If its not on the pipe, and actually shooting out into the central area of the heater, you need a new WH.

You can't repair a WH tank.

LOL I came back in here to say that apparently I'm not set. I didn't realize how much pressure builds up in these things. The hole was in the actual heating/water tank portion of the heater. My new heater will arrive tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I can't believe how much I've learned about water heaters in 24 hours lol

Well, glad you will have hot water soon. Prob a little stinky around yer place the last few days...lol.

I am having the same problem. I havent taken the vent off but was curious if very cold weather could cause the symptoms. My WH is in my basement which is 55 degrees but it was -10 last night outside. Thanks for any advice.