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Let’s talk water heaters and maintenance
Posted on 5/13/25 at 7:24 am
Posted on 5/13/25 at 7:24 am
I have a GE Geospring hybrid water heater that we got 13 years ago. It has/is working great. However we have been negligent in maintaining it. We’ve never done anything to it but keep the filter clean. We have never flushed it out or done anything else to it. This past week after my son took one of his patented long showers I noticed it leaking in the garage. This is the first time it’s done this. It’s not constant but only when under demand as it did it once again. After my wife took a long shower. It’s like maybe a quart of water and then it’s done. It has a drain line that runs to the outside and after the first leak I noticed it was clogged up with dirt and roots from some ferns growing nearby. When I cleared that out some water gushed out. I figured that was the problem but it leaked again in the garage. I’ve read and heard that once a unit starts leaking it’s done for. It still puts out clean/hot water, so maybe it’s something that can be fixed? What do yall think?
This post was edited on 5/13/25 at 7:33 am
4
Posted on 5/13/25 at 7:37 am to otowntiger
If it made 13yrs I would be pleased and just replace it. Being in the garage it should be an easy job also.
Posted on 5/13/25 at 7:51 am to Cypressknee
quote:thanks - you are probably right. It seems it should have lasted longer, but 13 years seems to be about average- I guess it could be because of my age 13 years seems pretty recent, lol. I presume if I had actually done some maintenance I could have gotten a lot more.
If it made 13yrs I would be pleased and just replace it. Being in the garage it should be an easy job also.
This post was edited on 5/13/25 at 7:52 am
Posted on 5/13/25 at 8:03 am to otowntiger
You need to figure out where the "leak" is coming from. It can only come from piping, the vessel, or the TPR valve.
If its the TPR valve (most common), it may need replacing or it could be that you need a thermal expansion tank. (I recently had to add one to mine)
If the actual vessel was cracked, it would leak constant. If its the piping from/to the tank, replacing the water heater won't fix this issue.
If you don't replace it, I would at least drain the tank. Being its been 13 years, I may would drain/fill it a couple times to give it a good flush. Its suppose to be drained once a year anyway.
ETA:
I have absolutely zero experience in hybrid tanks, but if they have a condensate drip line like an air condition and it clogs, it could present itself as a leak.
IE: the line you claim was stopped up outside, if condensate couldn't drain, it may appear as a leak inside around the tank. Again, I have no idea about hybrids, just throwing this out there
If its the TPR valve (most common), it may need replacing or it could be that you need a thermal expansion tank. (I recently had to add one to mine)
If the actual vessel was cracked, it would leak constant. If its the piping from/to the tank, replacing the water heater won't fix this issue.
If you don't replace it, I would at least drain the tank. Being its been 13 years, I may would drain/fill it a couple times to give it a good flush. Its suppose to be drained once a year anyway.
ETA:
I have absolutely zero experience in hybrid tanks, but if they have a condensate drip line like an air condition and it clogs, it could present itself as a leak.
IE: the line you claim was stopped up outside, if condensate couldn't drain, it may appear as a leak inside around the tank. Again, I have no idea about hybrids, just throwing this out there
This post was edited on 5/13/25 at 8:09 am
Posted on 5/13/25 at 8:28 am to southern686
quote:
TPR valve
I recently went through the "temperature pressure release valve" leak issue. First, I noticed a warm trickle from the outside discharge pipe. Taking advice from a YouTube video, I flipped the open.]/close lever on the valve trying to clear it. The warm trickle became a hot flood... valve stuck open!
Long story short. Replaced that 20+ year-old traditional heater two days later. I asked about an expansion tank since the new heater manual mentioned it. Intalling plumbers said it wasn't required by code in BTR and wasn't needed anyway.
BTW... nice thing about water heaters are that there are plenty made-in-America options to pick from.
Posted on 5/13/25 at 8:43 am to Tree_Fall
quote:
First, I noticed a warm trickle from the outside discharge pipe. Taking advice from a YouTube video, I flipped the open.]/close lever on the valve trying to clear it. The warm trickle became a hot flood... valve stuck open!
TPR valve probably just needed to be replaced. When I did plumbing years ago, we changed one at least once week.
quote:
Intalling plumbers said it wasn't required by code in BTR and wasn't needed anyway.
Yea my area doesn't require them either. However, I think because I am in such an older home (70s) that the bath faucets cut off very hard/abrupt which was causing a water hammer issue. You could even hear the copper pipe knock inside the wall. This water hammer was putting just enough pressure on the TPR valve to cause it to drip once or twice every time someone didn't turn the water off slowly in the bathrooms. I put the thermal expansion tank on and never had the issue again and no more knock from the pipe inside the walls.
Posted on 5/13/25 at 3:02 pm to otowntiger
A couple things with Water Heaters. I’ve like State, A.O. Smith and Rheem heaters. Never really tried any off brands. A good flushing every two to three years, removes all sediment. If the hot water gets a funny/strange smell, change the anode rod
Posted on 5/13/25 at 3:51 pm to LSUDad
My M-I-L's let go Sunday. the metal around the lower element just dissolved I guess. the tank was pretty old. massive amount of reddish sludge.
Posted on 5/13/25 at 7:46 pm to otowntiger
I was at work today when i casually looked at my ring camera and saw water pouring out from under our closed garage door out into the driveway. Rushed home to find our 23 year old water heater had literally exploded and split open in our garage. Water everywhere. Luckily being in the garage there was minimal damage. I didn’t know they would explode like that. Just thought it would stop heating one day. Learn something every day.
Posted on 5/14/25 at 3:50 am to Canon951
quote:
didn’t know they would explode like that.
me neither! That’s crazy!Posted on 5/14/25 at 5:46 am to otowntiger
quote:
me neither! That’s crazy!
I guess the pressure relief valve failed so the thing just swelled up until it busted open. It is positioned in our garage right outside the door from the house. If someone had been going out that door when it happened it could have been really bad. Thankfully I got it replaced yesterday afternoon and we are back in business with no issues. Note to self, maybe don't see how long it will last until it dies on this next one.
Posted on 5/14/25 at 8:16 am to Canon951
This makes me really nervous about my 20yr old one in my attic…..
Posted on 5/14/25 at 8:22 am to LSUSports247
I would go ahead and replace it. At that age, how much longer will it last? Who knows, but if it does like mine you will have a much larger issue with the damage all that water will do in your attic.
Posted on 5/14/25 at 8:50 am to LSUSports247
quote:
This makes me really nervous about my 20yr old one in my attic…..
50 gallons of ~130 degree water at ~55 PSI over my head, I would change it.
People forget these are actually pressure vessels, not tanks. With temperature and pressure, metal fatigue comes into play over the years.
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