Temporary water leak inside when water heater starts

[K9mlxj]

Hi,

I come across my 40 gallon GE gas water heater (more than 10 years old) pilot light going out a couple of times. When I re-lit the pilot light and turned on the water heater afterward, I'd always hear water drip sound inside the water heater -- until water heated up in the tank. Then the water dripping stopped.

Water is hot when heated up.

Is this normal?

 

[Jadnashua]

It's probably condensation. Once the tank starts to get warmer, less heat is drawn out of the flue gasses, and it stops condensing on the cold walls of the internal heat exchanger. This is probably more likely if the WH is in a cooler location verses heated space as the difference in temperature won't be as great and the flue gasses don't cool off as much.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[K9mlxj]

Thanks that helps. I guess during the summer this won't likely happen then?

 

[Dj2]

At 10 years old, I would start putting money aside in a jar labeled "New WH", but still use this one till it dies.
Just hope it doesn't die in the middle of an important shower.