What to Do When Your Hot Water Leaks?
A good water heater can last you 8-12 years. But even a quality one can spring a leak. A slight leak in your water heater can seem like a tiny issue, but this leak can turn into a major problem. This leak can damage the surrounding floors and walls. This also may be a sign of a bigger problem within your water heater. There are many reasons why the water could be leaking. You could have a broken drain valve, there could be corrosion, there could be a loose water line connection or the pressure/temperature valve could be broken.
Before you take any other action, you need to make sure you know where the source of the leak is. If the water is coming out below the water heater, it may not even be the water heater that is leaking. To find the leak, get a towel and fully dry the area. Once it is dry, inspect the area to see where the water is actually exiting the heater. Make sure you check your surroundings for any other possible leaks or damage. If you determined the leak is definitely coming from your water heater, follow these steps:
Turn off the water supply.
When you find water leaking out of your water heater, the first step is to shut off the water leading to your water heater. Find the cold-water line that is leading into your water heater. Once you found that, locate the valve that is located on the line. Turn it to the right until it is tight and the water is off.
Turn off the power.
If you have a gas water heater, go to your thermostat. There should be a little knob with settings on it that say on, off, and pilot. Turn the knob to either off or pilot. If you have an electric water heater, locate your breaker panel and look for a breaker that is labeled “water heater”. Switch it off to cut the power to your water heater. It is important to make sure that the power is off. Electric water heater have elements that can be damaged if the water is drained while they are still powered.
Drain your water tank.
Assuming your water heater has a tank, draining the water is the most important and involved step. The water in the tank can remain very hot for hours, even after being powered off. Wait for the water to cool or use extreme caution when attempting to drain the water.
To drain the water heater, find the valve near the bottom of your water heater. This is your drain valve. Take a garden hose and attach it. Next, run the hose to a drain or somewhere you can dispose of the water. Once the hose is in place, open the valve back up. (Depending on the age of the water heater this valve can either look like a spigot or a drain stem that you need to insert a screwdriver into the slot to turn.) If for any reason no water flows out of the hose once the valve is turned back on, you will need to break the vacuum that has been created inside the water heater. To do this, you will need to turn on any hot water on a faucet in your home. This will bring air to the water tank and allow it to drain completely.
Once these steps are completed and the water heater is empty, or if at any point you are uncomfortable or unclear on the steps, call us at Need A Plumber, Inc to come out and assess the damage and assist in repairing or replacing your water heater. We provide professional plumbing services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout Southern Florida. We provide fast response time,
We provide professional plumbing services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout Southern Florida. We provide fast response time, competitive rates, and reliable service. Need A Plumber? Schedule an appointment today and call us at 954-445-6443 or use our contact form.
