A leaking water heater can lead to all kinds of problems and very quickly. Damage to your home or office, your possessions, and even personal injury can occur due to this kind of leak. So, what should you do if you notice that your water heater is leaking?
What To Do When You Find a Leak
In most cases, the very best option is to call professional plumbers immediately when you notice the leak. Unless you have a strong working knowledge and experience in working on water heaters, attempting to work on them is generally not a good idea and can even make matters worse. If you know how to shut off the water heater and its water supply, however, this is a good first step that anyone can take.
To turn off the water heater, you must first know if it’s an electric or gas-fed model. With gas water heaters, you can stop the heating process by turning off the thermostat on the water heater or by shutting the valve connected to it that feeds it gas. On electric water heaters, shutdown is accomplished by turning off the power to the unit at the main breaker panel. The correct breaker to turn off should be marked “water heater.”
Next, to turn off the supply of water going to the water heater, you’ll want to find the water pipes that are attached to the unit. Valves should be installed on these pipes, or at the very least, there should be one valve installed on the pipe that feeds the water heater. Operate the valves you find here to close this fitting and prevent further water from being fed to the water heater and its leak.
Types of Water Heater Leaks
A leaking water heater can result from numerous problems. One common leak source in these units can be the piping that feeds them. These pipes can become old and degraded with time, resulting in a leak on the pipes or at the point where the pipes connect to the heater.
Another source for many water heater leaks is the water heater drain. These drains are built into water heaters so that they can be emptied of their water and subsequently serviced. However, these drains can sometimes degrade with time and begin to leak.
Water heater bodies themselves also generate leaks from time to time. Here, the inner vessel that actually holds the water may fail and begin to leak water through the sides or bottom. This can begin as a slow show of moisture or even abruptly start and quickly flood the surrounding area.
Yet one more very common source of water heater leakage happens when a unit’s pressure relief valve begins to release water. This valve is located on top or on the side of the water heater and is designed to release water when pressures climb too high within the heater’s internal vessel. This is typically a sign of other troubles in the system and should be troubleshot by a professional plumber as soon as possible.
If you think your water heater is leaking, give us a call right away, and we will immediately make your problem ours and get it fixed expeditiously. Here at E Dennis, emergency plumbing service work is one of our main specialties, and we know how to quickly, safely, and effectively resolve these kinds of problems. Give us a call today, whether you have an emergency or simply want to plan your next plumbing task around the house, and experience the very best plumbing outfit the greater Atlanta area has to offer.
