Well it means that your water heater has dangerously high pressure inside the tank.
Why is my hot water heater leaking.
Your tpr valve located at the top of the water heater automatically opens to discharge water when it senses too high pressure levels.
Flexible water supply tubes are the most common cause of leaks above the water heater since it is common for these tubes to fail long before the water heater is ready for replacement.
The temperature pressure relief valve is basically attached with your hot water heater and controls or maintains pressure of the water.
Over time this expansion creates stress on the glass lining of the heater and can cause it to crack.
The top main reason behind a hot water heater leakage is a temperature pressure relief valve trp.
In most cases a build up of sediment is the leading cause of this.
Shut off the water heater shut off the water supply and drain some of the water from the tank.
Most leaks come from the hot water tank itself.
An internal leak another reason your hot water heater may be leaking from bottom could be due to an internal leak.
This is especially common in basements or during damp weather.
Water may also leak from the pressure relief valve on the water heater.
Overtime if the tank is not regularly flushed out this build up can cause the tank to rust and spring a leak.
This could be caused by either a faulty valve or a high pressure situation in the water heater.
On most water heaters the pressure relief valve is on top of the unit but most systems include a tube attached to the valve in order to channel the water to the floor.
For your knowledge here are some of the reasons behind a hot water system leakage.
Over time the natural minerals in the water can calcify and create deposits on the inside of the tank.
As the condensation accumulates it ll drip and pool on the floor.
If age and deterioration is the cause of your leak you will need to call a professional plumber to replace your water heater.
If the valve itself is bad it can be replaced in several steps.
Many specialists determine that temperature pressure is the common source of the hot water heater leakage.
Also as water is heated it expands.
Condensation can form on the pipes and appliances surrounding your water heater.
Not every small puddle of water found at the base of your water heater is due to a leak.
If there is insulation around the supply tubes remove it so you can inspect and replace the tubes if necessary.
And when it opens it releases water to the bottom of the water heater via the discharge pipe.
These can crack the glass lining and cause your water heater to leak.
If the tank is leaking there is an internal problem and likely one of the components has sprung a leak causing water to leak out and pool slowly.