Plumbing Problem Fixed!

thanks to all that responded. I was able to resolve the leak on the upper element. The problem was that when I was trying to get the old element out I messed up part of the flange where the element screws into. The square gasket couldn't seat properly, so, I got my Dremel tool out and reshaped the area that I hit with the screwdriver and re-faced the whole area. I tested the fit of the new gasket and it seemed like a good fit now.

I also put some extra wraps of teflon tape and applied some brush-on pipe thread sealant.

I tightnend it all up and turned the water back on and it's dry as a bone.

I really didn't relish the thought of having to replace the whole tank. Hopefully my daughter can get a couple more years out of this one before we have to replace it. When that time comes we're going to look into a tankless system.

Way to go ! Good work !

Not a tankless electric I hope ?

No not a tankless. I looked at them but they take almost 100Amps to run, that's as much as the whole rest of the house. If we put in a tankless it will be a gas model.

We knew you could handle it.

And that too, very well done.

Regards.
Rehan