[sparky]

All too often I see plumbers and homeowners over using hydraulic cement. Perhaps this new heater is lined with hydraulic cement. Maybe open up the heater and inspect it for a cement lining.

My response would be his problem is from a LACK of hydraulic cement in the lining,he needs to pump a libral amount of hydraulic cement into his water heater then airlock it in order to force it into the lining