Water Heater Leaking? What To Do
Hot Water Heaters
If your heating unit has leaks, you should act immediately. A leaky water heater may seem like a small inconvenience in the long term, but can quickly become a major problem if ignored. A common water heater is 50 gallons in size and is quickly refilled to its capacity when cold water exits. The area around your tank floods as the tanks are constantly refilling due to water leaking. Leaking hot water can be damaging your floors, subflooring, possessions, and walls.
How Does a Hot Water Heater Work?
You should know the basic functioning and operation of a water heater. They are commonly known as a furnace for heating and storing water. First, the water in your home is heated and passes into a storage tank where it is stored until needed. The hot water enters pipes that run to various outlets from sinks, to showers, and baths.
The main components of a water heater include:
- Burner that heats the water
- Heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the burner to the water
- Thermostat that regulates the temperature of the water and turns on or off as needed
- An electrical control board that monitors various functions of the system, including regulating temperatures.
In order to prevent leaks and other problems, it is important to have your water heater regularly serviced and maintained. You should also know how to troubleshoot common problems so that you can quickly fix them before they cause serious damage.
An annual inspection by a professional can help prevent leaks, as the technicians can identify any potential issues before they result in leaks. It’s best to replace your water heater every ten years, as 75% of water heaters fail after 12 years. A failed water heater causes, on average, $4,500 in water damage.
Signs Your Water Heater May Soon Leak
Inspecting your water heater now and then is a wise move, but the vast majority of homeowners don’t do that often enough. If you wait until your water heater is leaking, it may be too late to prevent major damage to your home.
Water Pressure and Temperature
If the water pressure is less than normal or the hot water doesn’t last as long as it used to, it could be a sign of a leaking water heater.
Corrosion
If you see corrosion on the exterior water heater, it’s a sign that the tank could start to leak. You may also notice rust in the water itself or rust spots on your clothing.
Excessive Noise
This will often indicate that there is sediment at the bottom of the tank. A certified technician can drain the water to rid the sediment that’s inside the tank.
Pools of Water
Pools of water that form at the bottom of the tank are an obvious sign that your tank leaks. In the case that you find water leaking from the bottom, you should take the following steps to limit the water damage.
Why is My Hot Water Not Working?
If your hot water heater is not working, there are several potential causes:
Aging
Water heaters, like any other piece of equipment in your house, are vulnerable to the deterioration effects of age. However, when compared to many of the other appliances you use, these water heaters are quite durable. They can function for ten years or more, even with minimal maintenance. We do recommend that you have regular maintenance, especially as the tank begins to age.
Hot and Cold Inlet and Outlet
Due to their location on the water heater, the hot and cold inlets and outlets are more prone to damage than their other components. If you detect a leak, inspect these.
Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve
There are a variety of reasons why your water heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve might be leaking.
The pressure regulation valve may break if it’s called upon to manage too much pressure. The problem might also be due to the water heater raising the water temperature excessively, causing damage to the temperature and pressure relief valve.
Drain Valve
Since the drain valve is meant to clear any sediment that enters the water heater, you should anticipate it drip at least a bit. However, there is a significant difference between typical dripping and a full-blown leak. Make sure the drain valve isn’t leaking any more than it should since this might become a serious problem before you know it.
Contact a Certified Plumber
If you’re having trouble troubleshooting the problem, it is best to contact a licensed plumber for help. A qualified technician can diagnose and repair the issue quickly so that you can get your hot water back up and running.
How can I prevent leaks in my hot water heater?
There are a few things you can do to help prevent leaks in your hot water heater:
- Check the outgoing pipes for any signs of corrosion or damage. If you see any, have them repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
- Make sure the temperature of your water heater is set to the correct level. If it’s too high, it can cause the tank to overheat and develop leaks.
- If you have a gas water heater, make sure the venting system is clear and operating properly. A blocked vent can cause the water heater to overheat and eventually leak.
If you notice any problems with your hot water heater, it is important to address them as quickly as possible. To avoid leaks or other serious issues, be sure to have regular maintenance and repairs done by a qualified technician.
Are Leaking Hot Water Heaters Dangerous?
This is a common concern from homeowners. The short answer is yes, it’s potentially dangerous. However, more likely, the outcome will be that your home will become damaged by the leaking water. Here are some of the dangers that exist.
Potential Explosion
If the leak is caused by a buildup of water, it should be controlled by the temperature pressure relief valve, which is designed to release excess water when pressure builds up in the water heater. However, if the water temperature is set too high, the water pressure is too high or the relief valve is broken or damaged, the pressure may build up in the tank and the tank could explode.
Bad Water Quality
If the water heater leak is due to a rusty pipe, there is an additional danger to the water supply. The water that is exposed to rust may absorb bacteria and rust. This water will then be distributed throughout the home from the water, exposing users to potentially harmful chemicals or bacteria.
Is your water heater leaking? Contact us Now!
We service the greater DFW Metroplex including McKinney TX, Prosper, Little Elm, Lucas, Allen, Fairview, Prosper, and water heater leak cleanup in Frisco.
What should I do if my water heater is leaking?
Step 1. Determine if your water heater is leaking
We must go back and investigate the cause. During this process, you have to verify if there is water that is really leaking or condensation. Condensations don’t matter. The water heater is hot and the location is icy cold. You can verify it by wiping the heater off or you can also wipe out the water. Take an examination of the exterior. If moisture is absorbed at all, this could be condensation. Immediately examine all nearby appliances. Are HVAC systems nearby? Check for AC leakage. You may use towels on the surface to check the source of the water.
Step 2. Turn off the power
When you have verified your water heater’s leakage, then you should shut off the power immediately. You don’t need to run water heaters until they connect to their electrical supply. Using electric water heaters find circuits on the circuit breaker and turn off water heating switches. Turn off the electricity in the water heater. A gas shutdown valve is placed at its top near the gas lines on a gas water heater. Turn the handle to cut the gas supply.
Step 3. Turn off the water supply
It will stop the cold air from flowing into the heaters. Two pipes connect to your water heater tank. Most hot water heaters have shut-off valves in cold-out pipes that are installed. The cold water intake pipes provide the water reservoir with cold water. The heating vent pipe delivers the water to your house through the water heater. In the absence of color coded pipes, it’s easy to tell which is warm. The shutoff valves are turned clockwise and turned in the clockwise direction.
Step 4. Look For The Source Of The Water Leak
Let’s get started with this. The moment the water and electrical system is disconnected, you should look into the source of the leak for a correct troubleshooting procedure and repair. Find where the water accumulated and wash it down. If the next day it becomes evident there is a lot of water around it so you are able to troubleshoot the water leak.
Step 5. Schedule A Water Heater Repair With A Plumbing Professional
The next step to fixing water leaks in your house will require you to contact a professional with a plumbing license. They can determine if you need to replace the water tank or simply make a few repairs to get it working again properly. You may want to replace the water heater, with a new water heater if it’s more than 10 years old.
Step 6: Call a Water Damage Restoration Company
If your water heater has leaked a significant amount of water near the bottom of your tank, you should call a water damage restoration company right away. A few rolls of paper towels are most likely not going to be sufficient. A professional service can assess the damage caused by the leak, and completely dry hidden moisture that may be trapped under your floors. Additionally, water mitigation restoration companies can offer mold remediation services to prevent contamination of your home or property due to excess moisture.
Alpha One Restore – DFW Water Damage Contractor
Alpha One Restore is a certified and licensed water damage restoration company based in Prosper, TX. We are experienced in cleaning up water heater leaks and all other types of water leaks. Our team is on call 24/7 for emergency restoration service. If you notice that your water heater is leaking, give us a call right away. We can be on-site in 60 minutes or less in many cases. We service the greater DFW area including McKinney, Lucas, Fairview, Little Elm, Prosper, and Allen.
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