water heater condensation?

[kdenkins]

I have a 14 year old, 40 gal gas hot water heater that vents through the top. The water heater recently(?) started having puddles of water on the top in the recessed areas around the intake and outflow pipes. The puddles appear 15-20 minutes after a shower, washer cycle, etc.I am assuming that the puddles are the result of condensation that runs down the inside of the vent pipe Is this likely source? If not, is this the end of the line for this water heater, or is there a cost effective fix? (Water heater is in laundry room and recent nighttime temp was appox. 49 degF).

[Anonymous]

David, I think you are right on target with the condensation theory. Another possibility are the connections on top of the tank. Are the threads leaking due to corrosion? This can be fixed. However, the average life of a water heater is about 14 to 15 years depending on usage and aggressiveness of the water. Either way, yours is probably on the way to water heater heaven anyway. Make sure you have the water supply shut off if you decide to go on a vacation for a while. There are several inexpensive water alarms available that you might want to consider installing to alert you when you are sleeping. Good luck

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