I have a gas water heater in an outside closet. It’s just 5 years old and it’s corroded and has slow leaks all of the top penetrations – cold in, hot out, and pressure relief. Can anyone explain why it’s leaking this way, and is there any systemic problem I should look for when I replace the heater?? Thanks for your help. Rob Corrigan
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either highly acidic water (maybe) or the galvanic reaction from dissimilar metals in the connections..like galv. to copper, or some such anomally..or you got hosed on the heater.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
It must be galvanic, although the pressure relief is brass while the nipples on the water lines are galvanized. Thanks for the help. Rob
yup, ya need to correct that ..there was lonf thread here not too awful long ago...maybe someone remembers what it was,, the search is not so reliable..good luck never less..whats the city supply line? sometimes adding pvc inbtwix can help..but I ain't no plumber for sure..
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I like the PVC idea - unless it's not to city code. Thanks. RC
Nope. Good old Santa Cruz, CA city water.
Are there any pool chemicals or fertilzer stored in or around that closeet?
No chemicals, etc. Good suggestion, though. Thanks. RC
It's possible that the thing simply wasn't installed right -- the fittings not tight enough.
Galvanic reaction could cause some of the problems, but it's fairly normal to have brass TP valve and galv nipples. However, you may want to consider insulated fittings when you install the new unit. (Be sure to run a ground bonding wire between the hot and cold pipes, if they're metal.)
Could be that someone removed the anode, or it broke off.
Of course, being outside doesn't help things at all. Probably cuts the life of the exterior shell in half.
Thank you. That's the first time I'd heard about the ground wire. I'll put one in. RC
Oh, yea, it's gas and outside -- probably the flu gasses are getting drawn back inside the closet. Flu gasses are quite corrosive.
Thanks for the idea. The closet is pretty tight. I'll put a couple of vents in the side - low and high. RC
To Rob,
Are there dielectric unions being used where the incoming and outgoing lines connect at the top of the heater? I have read somewhere that dissimilar types of piping will react with each other at those connection points. Another recommendation would be to use a little PTFE paste on the mating surface of the unions when installing the new heater.