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            DIY Message Boards  Hop To Forum Categories  Home Improvement  Hop To Forums  Plumbing    Hot water leaking from the cold inlet!
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        Hot water leaking from the cold inlet! Sign In/Join 
        posted
        I hope someone can help me solve this problem. Out of nowhere, warm water started leaking out from the cold water inlet, between the shutoff valve and the water heater. Now, the cold water inlet is warm, and the hot water outlet is cold. It seems like, the flow of water has been reversed inside the water heater. I can't think why would this happen all of a sudden, so any help would be appreciated.

        Thanks, Arlen
         
        Posts: 2 | Registered: Jan 19, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        The fact that the water is warm is immaterial to your problem. The water is warm because it is close to the water heater itself. You have a leak and it needs repaired. How old is the water heater? This could be a sign on its impending failure if it is more than 8 years old.

        What kind of pipes do you have in the house? How old is the plumbing?


        General Disclaimer

        Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.

        My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
         
        Posts: 197 | Location: Cary, NC | Registered: Aug 17, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        If that's the case, where is the leak? Inside the water heater? Why is the warm water outlet pipe feel cold then?

        It's a condo, in a large building. Built in the 70's. Just purchased the property in July so don't know how old the water heater is. Pipes are most probably copper. I don't know how I'd check that.
         
        Posts: 2 | Registered: Jan 19, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        Hard to say where the leak is from here, since I can't see the water heater from my PC. The leak could be the threaded junction between the plumbing and the tank. It could be the tank, it could be any number of things.

        Are you getting hot water from the water heater? As to the age, there is usually a date stamp on the plate with the serial number. I think it is fairly safe to say that it has been replace several times since the building was built in the 1970's.


        General Disclaimer

        Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.

        My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
         
        Posts: 197 | Location: Cary, NC | Registered: Aug 17, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        NostrilDrippus Predicts! (tm) you have a broken dip tube. time for a new heater.


        sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money?
         
        Posts: 4693 | Location: North Burbs, MN | Registered: Mar 14, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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