Leaking tank style gas water heater

[Viz]

Hi all,

I've come across a leaking water heater and don't exactly know what to call the area it is leaking from. The leak is at the bottom near the air intake screen/filter. It looks like there is a metal bracket holding this assembly in place, and there is an opening in the bottom where this bracket is. The leak is coming from this opening. Does this opening or bracket have a name? It this likely a failed tank?

 

[Phog]

Hi Viz, what you're seeing is a leak that originates somewhere on the tank and is making its way down through the insulation between the tank & the outside shell. It comes out at the bottom, where it has found an opening in the shell. The part in your picture is just a clip of some type that is holding the shell in place. It has nothing to do with the water tank or the leak. You need a new water heater. Sorry for the bad news.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Dj2]

This WH looks over 10 years old, don't waste any time or money fixing it.
Replace it, the sooner you do, the less you'd pay, as prices of new WHs are outpacing inflation.