Need help - hot water heater leak

[Grayson Everett]

I was casually looking in my basement by the hot water heater and I found leaked water, about 1/4 of a gallon. I don't see it leaking continuously. I have the hot water heater and heating furnace together, not sure if it matters.

Not able to find out where the leak is coming from and how much should be worried?

 

[Sylvan]

Put a gauge on your hose bib as it could be the T&P discharging.

If it is the pressure the T&P will seep water If it is the temperature the valve will open fully

If your basement has high humidity this also can cause dripping from the heater as cold water is entering the tank as you use HW

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Weekend Handyman]

I am not a plumber or a pro. I would put a bucket under the TMP discharge to narrow down the issue. Defiantly important to figure out from where it is leaking, why, and to fix it.

 

[Phog]

It could also be that condensate pump for your furnace overflowing.

 

[Sylvan]

It could also be that condensate pump for your furnace overflowing.

I go to Penfield (Rochester) a few times a year by the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario and visit Letchworth state park

 

[Phog]

I go to Penfield (Rochester) a few times a year by the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario and visit Letchworth state park

Kind of cold up this way for Letchworth visits right now

 

[Sarg]

To the original post >> Follow the advice you've already been given.
Put a container under the pipe from the relief valve pipe in your picture to isolate where the water is coming from.
If it is from the relief valve you must have excessive pressure in your system. ( most T&P valves are 150 psi )
The pressure could be from something done outside your home by the water supplier or.... if you have a pressure control valve on your water entry it could be worn out. That's why Sylvan suggested the pressure gauge on a hose bib.
If it is a pressure problem caused by your incoming water ... you need a control valve. If internal possibly an expansion tank.

 

[WorthFlorida]

The discharge T&P pipe seems to look very new. Was the heater changed recently? Is there a expansion tank? In January the inlet cold water temperature probably hit its lowest temperature. When the water is heated it has to expand and without an expansion tank, the entire system builds up in pressure. When it gets near 150 PSI (60-80 is normal) the T&P valve opens until the pressure drops after weeping water. I had a house in Saratoga Springs, NY and even during the summer, the T&P would open when using a lot of hot water such as when using the washing machine. Fortunately, the discharge pipe went outdoors. As other have said, place a pail under the pipe.

The condensate pump is a possibility if you have a condensing furnace or it could be just for the A/C.