Korean Job Discussion Forums

noobteacher · Joined: 27 Nov 2009

Hey all! Hoping to get a little help before I have to call a repair guy. Yesterday, I noticed that the water tank to my water heater was leaking a lot of water out of the little tube. Normally if it happens it is just a little stream for 20 or 30 seconds and then it stops. Well last night after I turned the ondol off, it started doing it again but didn't stop this time. I figured it would eventually and went to bed only to wake up to the water STILL streaming out of it. When I have the ondol on, it's only a few drops of water here and there, but when it is off it is like a water faucet then has been left on low.

Any suggestions of what to do? Is it serious or is it something I can do by myself? Help!?

koreatimes · Joined: 07 Jun 2011

Are you turning it completely off? If so, it could have frozen and you busted a pipe. You need to tell your school or landlord if you are renting.

2009 and you're a noob? Confused

Cacille · Joined: 05 Oct 2011

Call the repair guy. This isn't something you can generally fix by yourself.
How do I know?

I'm a contractor who has worked at hardware stores for the past 8 years, knows plumbers and contractors as my main friends practically, and is currently a house painter who runs her own company for 5 of those years.
Trust me on this. Get a fixer person. Hot water tanks are something you do not wanna mess with yourself.

noobteacher · Joined: 27 Nov 2009

Thanks guys! Its not really leaking in the bad sense (like out of some random spot), it is coming out of the plastic tubes that are there for that reason I assume. But, I've never had it happen before, plus the constant water drip is annoying haha. Guess I'll have to deal with getting a repair guy out.

**I've been here a couple of years now, so no longer a noob, just stuck with a noob name

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

Ok, to me it sounds like the water valve which is meant to be used to fill the tank is open just a tad. That plastic tube is likely the emergency runoff (when the tank overflows). Basically, when you refill the tank a little too much, water will run out of it and let you know... hey... turn off the valve!

If you know where the valve is to add water to the system, make sure it's shut tight. Try to turn that off first. If you get nowhere or can't figure it out, ask a Korean who knows how to deal with this (be it a boss, apt. owner, or repair man).

soulofseoul · Joined: 23 Mar 2010 Location: Seoul

[quote="Cacille"]Call the repair guy. This isn't something you can generally fix by yourself.
How do I know?

I'm a contractor who has worked at hardware stores for the past 8 years, knows plumbers and contractors as my main friends practically, and is currently a house painter who runs her own company for 5 of those years.
Trust me on this. Get a fixer person. Hot water tanks are something you do not wanna mess with yourself.[/quote]

What are you doing on an ESL site then? :lol: just kidding

noobteacher · Joined: 27 Nov 2009

Thanks for the suggestion Swamp. I think you're right in that it just had too much water for whatever reason. I was just a bit baffled at why so much was coming out when I haven't touched the box and its hoses and stuff since I moved into the place in the spring.

I couldn't figure out any valve to tighten or fiddle with so I called the landlord and he jury rigged it for the time being and they'll call a real repair guy if anything goes wrong. I wish I didn't feel so incompetent when it comes to this kind of crap, but oh well haha. Thanks again for the suggestions guys!