Sometimes a water heater tank can build up too much pressure which can cause leaks. This can happen with the water temperature is set too high or the exterior water supply is coming in at too high of a pressure for the tank. Hot water heaters are built with a glass-lined storage tank. Over time, the natural minerals in the water can calcify and create deposits on the inside of the tank.
These can crack the glass lining and cause your water heater to leak. Also, as water is heated, it expands. Over time, this expansion creates stress on the glass lining of the heater and can cause it to crack. Unfortunately, when this happens, your hot water heater will need to be replaced; the cracks in the glass liner are not repairable. Sometimes, these leaks will not affect the performance or function of the unit and the people elect to wait to replace the water heater. Lose fixtures, improper draining, and just age, are all reasons that your water heater may be leaking.
If you have a gas hot water heater, you can also check the pilot light to determine if it is still operating. If neither of these simple fixes work, call to schedule a service call with a qualified technician to your home.
If you believe you have a gas leak at the water heater, you can turn off the gas at the dedicated gas shut off valve on the gas line leading to the water heater. If you believe that you continue to have a gas leak problem, you can call Fast for service at In the case of a serious gas leak or emergency, it is always best to contact your energy company immediately. But if you follow these steps you can prevent an emergency from becoming a disaster.
Call for fast service. If this is a gate-style valve a wheel that turns , turn the valve clockwise as far as you can. If the valve is a ball-style valve , turn the handle degrees. Call us if you need help to talk through this at This can happen during periods when hot water usage in the home is especially high. The cold tank, reacting with the warmer air inside the home, causes condensation. The water then drips off the tank and onto the floor, which gives the appearance of a leaking tank.
Try to even out hot water demands in the household so that less than half the tank contains cold water at any given time. A typical hot water heater connects to two pipes -- a cold water supply line and a hot water line. The pipes often have elbow joints so they can bend toward the water heater. Either of these water lines can leak, particularly at the joints. If water sprays from a fitting or pipe, the problem is clear. A dripping pipe or joint is less noticeable.
Tighten loose fitting joints to stop leaks. If this does not solve the leak, turn off the water supply and power supply, then disconnect the fittings. This can especially happen on colder days. When cold water meets the warm temperature in your water heater, it can cause condensation to drip from the outside and build up under your unit.
This problem will fix itself as soon as the water heater has warmed up. Another simple problem that is often overlooked is that your drain valve is not tight enough. The drain valve is the faucet with a knob at the bottom of your water heater. A leaking water heater may seem like a minor inconvenience, but in reality, it can quickly turn into a major problem. The average water heater has a gallon tank and whenever water leaves the tank drawn or leaking cold water will quickly refill it to capacity.
Find Local Plumbing Experts. As the tank is constantly refilling from the water heater leak, the area surrounding your tank will flood. Even a small amount of water leaking from your water heater can cause damage to your floors , sub-floors and walls. A significant flood could lead to hefty repair bills and damage to personal property. Water heater leaks can also be a health concern and lead to mold and mildew.
Not all water heater leaks are serious. Some can be repaired by simply tightening a connection. Others may need a little more attention, but you can probably do the repairs yourself, especially if you enjoy DIY projects. Unfortunately, there's also times when you'll find your water tank leaking and you'll either need to call a plumber to make the repairs, or purchase a new water heater.
Either way, this article will help you determine why your water heater is leaking and what you should do to resolve the problem. If your water heater leak is not obvious, then you may want to do a little troubleshooting before turning off the water supply.
Just because you have water under your water heater doesn't mean that your water heater is leaking. Furnace drain lines, water softener discharge lines, condensation, and other plumbing could be the source. These things can easily make it look as though your water tank is leaking, when in fact, the problem isn't your water heater at all.
If you can't identify where the water is coming from, you can dry the area and place some paper towels or newspapers down. Check back over the next couple of days. If the water returns, and you still can't identify the source, there's a good chance your water heater is leaking. On top of your water heater there should be two pipes. One will be warm to the touch and the other cold. Some manufacturers even identify them with red and blue collars or paint.
The pipe that's cold is the water supply line. It allows cold water to enter your water heater when hot water is drawn. Follow the line and look for a shutoff valve. Most water heaters have a shutoff valve on the water supply line. Although the majority of water heaters have a shutoff valve on their water supply line, some do not. In this case, you may need to turn the water off using your home's main shut-off valve.
This will shut down all the incoming water to your house, including the water supply to your water heater. With your water turned off, it's now time to turn off the power to your water heater. The process is different for gas and electric heaters:.
Now with your water and power turned off, it's time to roll up your sleeves and do some troubleshooting! Right now our goal is to identify the source of the water heater leak. Once you determine why your water heater is leaking, we'll show you how to fix the problem.
As a general rule, when a water heater leaks from the top the problem can be repaired. In fact, you may be able to do the fix yourself. Unfortunately, when your water heater is leaking from the bottom , there's a greater chance that the problem is serious.
If your water heater has a pool of water on top, there's a good chance that the source of the leak is either the incoming water supply valve, cold water inlet, or the hot water outlet. Whenever there are pipe connections, there's a higher chance of a leak. Follow the cold and hot water pipes. Do you see any water? Are the fittings tight? Is there any leakage around the shutoff valve on the cold water supply line? The fix to any of these problems could be pretty easy and you may be able to do it yourself.
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