leak in hot water tank after power outage

Alleycat

Alleycat

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Greetings from the northeast's ice storm

After 75 hours, we finally got power back this morning. As soon as the burner kicked on the hot water tank started to leak from the cap at the top of the tank.

Husband took off the cap and tightened up the screws and the leak slowed to a drip. He called a plumber who said it was not unusual to have a leak after so long without power, and it has now stopped, but I would say it was about a quart of water that leaked out before it stopped.

Does this sound normal to you?

Thanks for any input.
 
leak

I suppose by "cap" you mean the element. It is NOT common for it to happen, but if it was loose, it could have contracted when the water cooled and started to leak.
 
Here's a picture. Water was leaking from the base of the small disk on the top of the tank. It is oil fired.
 

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I don't know if that sort of leak is "normal" but it was an easy enough fix. :)
 
Yea, I'm thinking it might be an indirect unit.

Can you give us another picture showing the whole unit from further back?
 
It is indeed an indirect and leaks on that particular brand are more than common. The tank will probably not last more than a couple more years if that. They were big warranty issues.
 
Here's more pictures. Maybe I was not describing the system correctly. We have oil heat/ hot water. The system is 4 years old. The leak came from the hot water tank (on the left in the first picture.) The third picture is the sticker on the tank. Water was dripping from the bottom of the bolts around the perimeter of the metal cap on the top of the tank (it's actually two metal disks with a gasket in between.) It was probably a quart or more of water that came out within a half hour or so of power being restored. Husband tightened the bolts and the water stopped. (And he broke one in the process but found a replacement bolt that fit.)

The cap is pretty corroded. We have well water which is somewhat hard.

Again, main question is whether it is correct that this can happen after a power outage and is nothing to be concerned about.

Thank you all for any input. It's much appreciated.
 

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Thanks for the reply Redwood - it will need replacing because of the corrosion and that is what is causing the water to seep out? The tank is only 4 years old. :mad:
 
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