Direct answer
Identify whether water comes from piping, relief valve, drain, condensation or tank body. A leaking tank body is not fixed by tightening fittings.
What this covers
- Residential tank and heat-pump water heaters with visible leakage
- The exact condition described in the title
- Customer-accessible checks before internal repair or reset
What it does not cover
- ×A different brand, model family or similar-looking code
- ×Internal live-electrical, gas, refrigerant or sealed-system testing
- ×A guarantee that a named component has failed without isolation
Capture the exact state
ReversibleTurn off the heat source as documented and locate the first wet point.
Separate the likely fault domains
ReversibleCheck nearby plumbing/condensation and observe relief discharge from a safe distance.
Correct only the proven, accessible condition
ReversibleUse a licensed plumber for relief-valve, gas, electrical, tank-body or concealed leakage.
Verify once before going farther
ReversibleRestore only after correction and safe refill/purge.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I record first for “Water heater is leaking or has water around the tank”?+
Turn off the heat source as documented and locate the first wet point.
Does the symptom or code prove a part has failed?+
No. Check nearby plumbing/condensation and observe relief discharge from a safe distance.
When should I stop troubleshooting?+
Stop for hot discharge, gas odor, electrical wetting, bulging, perforation or uncontrolled flow.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.