[Proplusplumbingllc]

Hey Stu, Never a fun time when that happens. Suggested by Energy Star - It is recommended to consider changing the heater if it is older than 10 years old or if there is visible corrosion, leaking as you mentioned, or even issues of hot water circulation. Avoiding the signs could result in a sudden failure of the unit. Here's the Energy Star article on it: ENERGY STAR Ask the Experts | Products | ENERGY STAR