I was in an upstairs closet a couple months ago and found the water heater pan contained about half an inch of water. It was just below the drain outlet. There was no sign of any leak anywhere. I vacuumed the water out. The next day it was bone dry. Never a drop of water or the least moisture since. The only thing I can think of is a short pressure release, but what would have caused that? Should I be worried about a repeat?
We travel quite a bit and the thought of another event makes me nervous. We’ve had two catastrophic water events in the last three years. The downstairs water heater developed a slow leak that was undetected for quite some time. By the time we discovered it, water had spread throughout most of the first floor under the raised wood flooring. (Over concrete slab). The entire first floor is wood, and had to be replaced.

The next year, the water softener in our guest house blew out with such force the water ate a huge hole in the dry wall and flooded the building. The wood floor had to be replaced, as well as much of the drywall and wood trim.

So, we are gun shy about another water leak.

What should we look out for with the recent leak? I’ve never heard of a tank releasing pressure on its own, though I realize that’s what the valve is there for.

Thoughts?

Thanks!