I, too, fought the hot water heater and lost (a few years ago.)
Except it was a slow leak at first, and the heater is on the second floor, and I wondered why there was a line of wet ceiling in my family room. The back-up pipe to drain the water was only about 8 inches long and didn't go anywhere -- so the water just ran along beams in my ceiling.
The plumber who replaced the unit fixed it to drain outside on the patio, not in my ceiling, if it happens again.
Oh, and there was the leak in the pipes behind my refrigerator. "Why is the carpet wet?" Because your floor is soaked underneath. That one took the big fans for a few days to dry it all out.
And who could forget my kitchen ceiling leaking because of my neighbor's pipe? That was the best. That was why I hated my neighbor who didn't pay the plumbing bill (because I called in someone else while he was in Barcelona at his summer home.)
Water can be frustrating, dirty and destructive.
- Mere "Sorry it has spread to your house.

" 1975