Our five year old electric water heater has been leaking around the bottom. It does not do it all the time and seems to be heating the water fine. What should we do?

What is the warranty on this tank?
Warranties covered failed tank.

Does the tank wall have a leak?
If the tank is leaking on top around inlet pipes, or leak is coming out of weld around TP valve, then water heater must be replaced.
Copy following link for troubleshooting and method for prolonging life of water heater by turning off heater except to make batches of hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Leaking-water-heater.html

You can buy water heater at local box store. $350 for gas and $230 for electric, then get store coupon or offer 10% less than sticker price.
Electric water heater is simple to replace.
Gas water heater takes more steps, but how-to step-by-step appears on following link:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

It could leak trough the bolts that holds the element, the gasket as well, and it could be a crack in the tank around the opening of the element if it's a plate type element, if it's a screw in type elemnt, than it could be a crack in the threads or you didn't seal the threads with proper compound...

Hello, Your 20 year old water heater is nearing the end of it's useful life. Most water heaters last only 20 years before they start to leak. The reason most likely it has intermittent heat spurts is most likely due to two things, 1. The unit has a lot of rust in the water (you don't normally notice it during a shower) If you were to bleed off the rust by attaching a hose or bucket to the bottom of the heater's water outlet, and /or the over pressure tube located off of the top of the unit that has a copper pipe on it pointing toward the ground, that you would see a lot of rust come out of it. You could do this and get a bit more life out of it and better heat to boot, unless it decides to leak.
2. The water heater has a bad electric heating element (if it's electric that is). Replacing it may solve the problem but most likely the heater still isn't going to last too much longer anyways, so that would be a judgement call on your side.
You would in all likely-hood be better off replacing the entire water heater now while it is in a controlled environment before it leaks at some unfortunate time causing water damage and other damage at the same time when you are not around to control it.
Good Luck! Rich L.

First shut off power then remove acess cover and carefully move insulation out of the way so you can see around elements.Check to see if leak is coming from around element.If it is determine what type of element you have. Either screw in or bolted in. Both have thick rubber gaskets that can be replaced by draing water heater and removing element then install new gasket and reinstall element.
To drain heater shut off valve on incoming cold water supply line ,make sure electric power is off. Connect drain hose to drain valve and put other end to floor drain or sump basin.You can open faucet on hot side near by to prevent vacumn and drain. If you have screw in type disconnect wires,marking them for reattachment,then use large open end wrench or pipe wrench on hex section of element and turn to left to remove. If you have bolt in element spray bolts with wd-40 or similar and carefully loosen bolts then disconnect wires and remove element.install new gasket and reverse to reinstall. I would recommend that you replace elements at this time if you are sure this was the source of the leak.
If you don't think it's leaking around elements then check fitting on both water lines to water heater to be sure they are not leaking and seeping down thru insulation and leaking out of the bottom of heater. Next check around drain valve for leak and if it's leaking you can try tightening it a little or replace it with 3/4 x2 brass nipple and 3/4 inch female iron pipe boiler drain. Use teflon tape or pipe joint compound on all threaded connections.
After you have eliminated all other sources for leak then it is probably the tank itself. If it is less then six years old the tank should still be covered under warrenty. Most warrenties will give you a new heater but installation will not be covered unless you have extended service coverage.
I hope this helps you some. Thank you

If you know a little on mechanics try to disassemble the unit in order to clean it inside.Or get an Electrician to repair it.Those unit works like the electric ranges.The heating sys of the water has inside electric parts that with the time get burn.

time for a new hot water heater

If the water cooler is more than 10 years old, the cathodic rod is probably all used up and the tank itself is taking a big hit with corrosion. Replace the water heater if the above is true. Otherwise on newer tanks, pull the heating element access panels, scoot aside the insulation, and look for leaks. Look for leaks at the spigot and at the top connections. For gas units, look for leaks only at the plumbing connections. Gas heaters might last 15 years before replacement is needed.

It could just be a leak around the threads of the connection of the pipe nipple in the hot water outlet. If so, you'll have to take out the one there now and replace it with a new one.