Water Heaters - Electric HW Heater/Radiant Heat

Turned on my hot water heater that heats my garage and it is not functioning... it is only three years old. It is part of a single zone radiant heat system that heats a closed loop of water/antifreeze using circulating pump and expansion tank. Checked the hot water reset button and it has not released - but it doing so, noticed that the insulation I pulled out from the upper access port is wet with the water/antifreeze solution. There also is some liquid also in the pan under the water heater. - does this suggest that my water heater is already doomed?

Thanks, Larry

It suggests that there is a leak somewhere. It might not be the heater itself. Is there a pressure relief valve there?

I agree - I also have a pressure meter and I run it at 15 psi - the pressure relief valve has not tripped, so unless my tank has cracked (do they do that?) I am stumped.

Larry

A tank can spring a leak and since the insulation was wet, that's what it sounds like. Dry everything with a rag and keep checking.