New GE water heater with slow anode leak

**Breazeway** · 03-13-2006, 05:19 PM

I just installed a new GE gas water heater and thought all was well. A few hours later I checked and found a small drip type leak coming from the top of the anode rod. Having never messed with this device, I am wondering if I should take the water heater back and go through all that trouble or if I can simply tighten the hex nut (if I can find a large enough socket).

**Dunbar Plumbing** · 03-13-2006, 05:47 PM

Shut the water off, drain down the tank a few gallons, then find the correct socket to remove the anode rod. Then, use teflon tape and wrap the threads on the anode rod along with teflon thread sealant and reinstall. Turn water back on to see if it still leaks.

You can actually have tech service come out and inspect this @ no charge to you. They cover this under the warranty. It might be a defective tank. If so, they will replace the water heater @ no charge to you.

**jimbo** · 03-13-2006, 07:24 PM

Since this could be a defect necessitating a new tank, why not take advantage of the ON_SITE GE warranty as suggested by Rugged.

hj · 03-14-2006, 04:58 AM

If you do remove the anode, use a pipe dope when you replace it, not tape, since you want to maintain a metal to metal contact so the anode can work.

**master plumber mark** · 03-14-2006, 02:01 PM

dont think that this is under warranty for FREE....

I know of a few people who were not happy
paying a $80 service call on a 5 weeek old new water heater

If you can get a service tech for GE to come out
you will most likely pay for it....

Ask if their are any costs incurred before the guy shows up

If you installed it yourself ,
most likely you will have to reapir it yourself too

or argue with someone over the service call....

**jimbo** · 03-14-2006, 10:01 PM

GE has a one year Parts and Labor warranty. Call the 800 number and theyh will send a factory service guy and there is no charge.

**master plumber mark** · 03-15-2006, 03:50 AM

just be sure that the problem is within their water
heater and not something to do with your plumbing installation
or will surely be charged... once the service tech finally arrives
and looks it over.

I suggest the guy does not fool with that leaking rod either,
or they might void use that for an excuse to void the waranty..

Perhaps it is simply a defective leaking water heater--it happens all the time

Now--If this fellow installed it himself,

he will most likely be given another new water heater in excahnge for the
bad one --- but he will have to take the bad one back to the place of purchase
for an exchange and then he will get to install it all over again....

now if some hardware store installed it for him ,
he might get it done for free.... sometime in the next 5-10 days
after the service tech looks it over...

it seems fair either way it goes down......

take this complaint for whatever you think it is worth..about GE..

http://www.complaints.com/september2...ember23.29.htm

**jimbo** · 03-15-2006, 07:56 AM

MP Mark.............I believe you are correct about the issue of install if the heater needs to be completely changed out. The service guy will call GE and they will tell the owner to take it back to HD for an exchange. Only if an HD contractor installed it would that labor be covered.

So, even if the anode rod just needs some dope, the service company may call it a cracked boss and wash their hands of the whole thing!

**Bob NH** · 03-15-2006, 08:56 AM

http://www.geappliances.com/smartwat...tures_main.htm

The GE limited warranty on gas water heaters covers "Full 1-year in-home warranty - Covers all labor to fix or replace a defective water heater."; unless you get the real junk warranty of "6 years tank, 1 year parts" warranty.

I would call GE.

**toolaholic** · 03-15-2006, 08:43 PM

WHY WOULD ANYONE THINK THEY'D HAVE TO PAY A DIME TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE ? it's a freebe daa

**master plumber mark** · 03-16-2006, 04:24 AM

I have been down this road before...

if you want to see pics of a Richmond water heater
three weeks old that the customer paid 80 bucks to have
looked at --go to my web page..way down on the products page

Richmond and GE come from the same factory.....

For a very short time around 91 I did the service contract for
Richmond water heaters in this area and got out of it quick...

too many half assed installs
by the hoeowner that they did not want to pay for
me to make right..

too much paper work and hunting down parts

and too little money from Richmond to
diagose and do the warranty work...
(this included power vent units too)

too many mobile homes..ect ect...

fighting the customer over the fact they turned on the power to the
water heater while it was empty was the last straw..

what do you do...??

Just hope that they have someone in his area willing to
take those lumps in the first place....

Lowes has that problem in lots of large metro areas

( I worked for lowes once too)

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=8776&wrapper

**jimbo** · 03-16-2006, 08:14 AM

The homeowner posted on Monday, It is now Thursday. I hope by this time he has at least called GE, or taken some other action to resolve this! I hope he posts back to let us know if any of our pontificating helped him out at all!

**master plumber mark** · 03-16-2006, 05:38 PM

sorry about all this pontificating.....

I do have issues with all the hardware stores-- and
the products they sell and the promises they make..

waiting to see how long it takes to get it resolved.

**toolaholic** · 03-16-2006, 08:08 PM

to home owners. I can't believe someone that bought from h.depot would receive an $ 80 bill to seal a factory,leaking anoid .

just where does an installation snafo cause a leak on an anoid?

**master plumber mark** · 03-17-2006, 04:28 AM

that was for a Richmond gas water heater a few years ago
that was 3 weeks old..

the hardware stores sell tons of them, to handy guys for the bottom
dollar, and its ok..

but on average

once its out there door , its basically your problem... period.

go to my web page and look at the products page if you
want to see a few I posted

enough pontiificateing for now.