This is normal
Probably normal: condensation
A little water that appears after heavy hot-water use and then dries up is usually condensation, not a leak.
Why this happens
A. O. Smith says condensation should only be noticeable after a long draw of hot water, and should stop once the tank is above 110F. Rheem puts the test simply: normal condensation accumulates and then evaporates, while a leaking tank always leaks. Rheem also says water that evaporates overnight or during the day means there is no leak.
What to do
- Dry the area and check it the next morning, and again after a long run of hot water.
- Look at other things that sweat in the same room, like a toilet tank or cold pipes. If they are wet too, it is likely humidity.
- If the puddle stops drying up, or grows, come back and choose that answer.
If it still worries you, tell the plumber
- If it changes: when the water appears and whether it dries up.
- The heater's make, model and age.
Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.
Start this troubleshooter over
References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)
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