After getting a bunch of rain the other day, I checked the basement for water. There wasn’t any rain water, but there was some water around the water heater. It was coming out of the expansion valve tube. The plumber came yesterday and replaced some parts on the water heater and also installed a pressure reducing valve on the water line, which, apparently, it should have already had.
Last night, I checked on the water heater and there was water on the floor again. I couldn’t remember if it was like that when he left or if I was still having a problem, but things are dry this morning, so it must have been the former. I’m still keeping an eye on it, but it doesn’t look like there’s a problem at this point.
That all said, the water heater was installed 16 years ago, so it could go at any time. And prices for them have skyrocketed over the past 2 years, much like everything else. It’s going to cost more than double when I have it replaced. At least I know to put some additional money back for that inevitable expense.