Leaking Hot Water Tank

[jsider]

Hi All,

I have a 60 Gallon electric hot water tank which has started to leak a few weeks ago. It's a very small drip from the inner tank. The only reason I noticed it is because the floor beneath it was moist and every now and then a small puddle is formed before it evaporates. I would typically have replaced it by now, but I have just found out that I will be getting natural gas installed on my street in the spring so now I don't want to buy and install a new electric hot water tank when I will be replacing it with a natural gas unit in approximately 8 months.

So the question is, will this tank hold out and I'll just have to put up with a minor drip? Or is it likely that the leak will get worse and I could end up with a flooded basement? I assume there is no way of stopping the leak?

Thanks for the help!

 

[johnjh2o]

I would say it won't last another 8 months. I you decide to try to make it through the next 8 months I would be turning the valve on the heater after each use. the minor drip could turn into a major leak within the next hour. Plus if the gas company is saying you'll have gas in 8 months you'll be lucky to be hooked up to it in a year.