We noticed today that there was rust water stains on the top outside metal sides of our externally located electric hot water heater.
An inspection noted there is one small plastic cap on the top edge, and a larger one in the centre.
The centre cap had popped out and was sitting on the top. Where the cap went on, the water there was hot, but horribly brown, and it felt like bits of insulation came out as I cleaned it up.
I reattached the cap, and released the pressure on the relief valve. Water coming out was still hot, but rusty for the first couple of seconds, then clear. Just as I stopped on the pressure valve release, the top popped off again.
I cleaned it up, repeated the process. Clean water came out of the relief valve, and the top did not pop off.
Would all this indicate doom for the tank, and I am looking at replacement?
The tank is about 15 years old, and has been working flawlessly. Had we not noticed the staining, we would not have known there was a problem.
Many thanks, as usual.
An inspection noted there is one small plastic cap on the top edge, and a larger one in the centre.
The centre cap had popped out and was sitting on the top. Where the cap went on, the water there was hot, but horribly brown, and it felt like bits of insulation came out as I cleaned it up.
I reattached the cap, and released the pressure on the relief valve. Water coming out was still hot, but rusty for the first couple of seconds, then clear. Just as I stopped on the pressure valve release, the top popped off again.
I cleaned it up, repeated the process. Clean water came out of the relief valve, and the top did not pop off.
Would all this indicate doom for the tank, and I am looking at replacement?
The tank is about 15 years old, and has been working flawlessly. Had we not noticed the staining, we would not have known there was a problem.
Many thanks, as usual.