Hot Water Heater Pipes Sweating

Hot water heater condensation can scare you when it happens.

Hot water heater pipes sweating. Sweating pipes occur when the water inside the pipe is colder than the humid air surrounding it. The process is the same as a glass of cold water sweating on a hot and humid summer day. If your cold water pipes are sweating more than you are on these hot summer days here s the simple cure. At the top of your hot water heater you have an inlet and an outlet pipe.

For gas hot. During the summer the surrounding air is naturally hot. A leaking hot water heater can result from leaks in the pipes. Insulating the hot water pipes leading out of your water heater for example can reduce heat loss and lower the costs of heating the water.

The cold water comes in and hot water goes out. Finally insulating cold water pipes can prevent the pipes from sweating due to moisture condensation which can reduce humidity levels in the house in the summertime. Determine if it is the result of condensation. If the tank is leaking determine if the leak is from pipes or valves.

Whichever hot water heater system you choose make sure you have the right water heater parts and accessories before you get started including water heater drain pans water heater blankets expansion tanks pipes fittings and insulation. Condensation often occurs on water heaters when a large hot water draw occurs and thus a large amount of cold water enters the water heater. In most cases the first time a water heater is activated it will produce condensation that cannot be stopped. In either case when warm humid air reaches cold pipes drops of moisture form and drip as if there was a tiny hole in the pipe.

Run down to the local. Sometimes when you run a lot of cold water into the tank for instance when it is used quite a bit you will get condensation that drips onto the floor. Cold water lines will sweat during hot humid conditions. How to stop water heater condensation.

Depending on the location of the pipes and the extent of the sweating it can also damage your drywall baseboards and flooring. In winter the air is heated by the furnace. This is a natural and accepted fact of using. When warm humid air meets cold pipes moisture beads on the outside of the pipe.

We also have a selection of solar water heaters and hybrid water heaters to choose from. Cut pipe insulation to length with a serrated bread knife. Seal joints between lengths of tubing with special peel and stick seam sealing tape or foil duct tape. While this may seem like a problem exclusive to summer it also happens when we re heating our portland homes in winter.

This condensation is sometimes mistaken for a leak in the water heater storage tank. Sweating occurs when the water inside the pipe is much colder than surrounding humid air. Your pipes are not sweating.