my hot water heater is leaking AGAIN

[fizzgig]

gah!

i have been in my place for two years now and this is the third time that the pipe coming from the top has sprung a damn leak. i don't know a thing about plumbing, but i have a feeling it might stop doing that if they'd put in copper pipe rather than freaking pvc, but i've been told that such a fix is not possible due space/positioning/whatever.

at least this time i caught it before it exploded all over and flooded my neighbor's place (again). so know i'm waiting for the maintenance guy to call me back and i'm not going into work without a shower (yeah, i'm picky that way)

so on the bright side, it means i get to work from home for at least part of the day

[seemunkee]

1. Glad you found it in time.

When mine burst I found 12" of water in my basement.
I don't understand why they can't put copper.

[fizzgig]

7. the first time it happened

i found it around 3 a.m. and had to stick my arm through a steaming hot jet of water to get it turned off and the water had leaked into the kitchen. it wasn't anywhere close to 12", but it sucked.

i don't know about the copper either, but i really should push for a better fix

[billyskank]

2. I know fuck all, but

I wouldn't be surprised if the reason such a fix is not possible has nothing to do with space, positioning or even whatever, but has everything to do with the fact that copper costs lots more than plastic...

:hug:

[Omphaloskepsis]

3. And you need to install a dielectric union when you go from..

steel to copper. Well, you don't need to but not doing so is foolish. Steel to PVC eliminates the need for one.

[billyskank]

4. Putting my intelligent hat on for a second

that is to do with the different rates of thermal expansion of the various materials, right?

[Omphaloskepsis]

5. No... The two different metals and water make a really weak battery.

So one metal will erode and the other metal gains if the two are connected directly. That is why you need a gap. I wish I could explain it better.

[billyskank]

6. Oh yeah. That's why you said "dielectric."

:dunce:

[fizzgig]

8. you're probably right

the last time, he used pvc but it is mostly covered by two large, plastic screw looking things (i have no idea what they're called) and i think that is what prevented it from being the same mess i had the last two times

:hug:

[Kali]

9. is it cracked or leaking from a joint?

[fizzgig]

10. i'm guessing that the pvc is cracked again

that's what happened the first two times

i'm just waiting to hear back from the maintenance guy as to when he can come fix it

[Kali]

11. if there is a lot of water going everywhere you might be able to shut the supply line off

but also turn the heater off as well so you don't burn it up. there should be a shut off vavle somewhere near the water heater on the inlet pipe (it should feel cold compared to the outlet pipe if you can't tell any other way)

good luck - how nice to have a maintence guy! I do most of that kind of stuff around here.

[fizzgig]

12. i got it turned off this morning

but i didn't think about turning the heater itself off (hopefully it will be fixed by the time i get home)

thanks for the advice