Water Heater fixed its own leak.

[Jseeley2003]

3 weeks ago my hot water heater was leaking turned off the water and gas and drained it. Unfortunately it leaked out over 8 gallons and ruined my hardwood floor. So my insurance company finally has American leak detection come out 3 weeks later and not a drop...no leak. So i turned on the gas and we heated it up...still no leak.

Is this possible??...u can see several rusty water lines on the inside of the tank were a steam was running.

Is it fixed or a ticking time bomb.?

 

[johnjh2o]

Ticking bomb.

 

[Jeff Handy]

How can you see inside the tank?

 

[Jseeley2003]

I can see the burner and to the right of it along the liner u can see rust from 3 water streams

 

[Jeff Handy]

Replace it.

Did insurance cover your flooring?

 

[skeezix]

Problems that go away by themselves come back by themselves...

 

[Jeff Handy]

Just like taking your car to the mechanic for a funny noise, which of course stops while you are there.
Then returns as you pull into your driveway.

 

[Jseeley2003]

This was the last process to have American Leak Detection come out to check it. 3 weeks after it happened. This might be a fight to get the floors fixed. Even the leak guy said he could tell it leaked. We shall see.

 

[Riickk]

I used to do some inspections about leak damage for a national water-cooler company.
Insurance compny will pay for the damage, but probably an inadequate amount.
They'll say, well a 4'x7' area was damaged, and at $29.43/sq.ft, we will pay $XXX
for new flooring, repairing the damage. ...Ignoring fact that the new flooring will not match the old.

Hold out for "Make me whole" - as in floor in same state as it was before the flood.
So, given everything matched, you want the same when it's all finished.
(( Sand and refinish new & old wood floor so it all matches ))

HTH

 

[Dshow]

Do you have a drip pan under the heater? If not, I would get one.

 

[CT18]

The sediment in the bottom probably filled in the hole for now. I saw a few old heaters cut open that had 12" of sediment in them.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

Do you have a drip pan under the heater? If not, I would get one.

At minimum! [drip pan, tied to drain]

A water heater in a finished space near a hardwood floor is a ticking time bomb. So is a water heater in an attic. Jeez, put the darn thing in the basement or garage where WHEN it leaks, it's not going to cause much damage.

 

[TomFOhio]

Replace it. Don't take a chance on it. Garbage inside the tank filled the hole and it will come back out
and start leaking again.