Water Heater Leaking: Why Do Water Heaters Leak?

If you look at your water heater and you find that it is leaking, this is an indicator that something is wrong. Your water heater should never leak. The cause may be something simple like a loose valve, or it could be a major issue with corrosion in your tank. It is important to figure out what is going on because if left untreated, this leaking can cause damage to your floors and cause issues with mold. If your tank is going bad, you may not have any hot water, or you may suffer from higher energy costs.

You can troubleshoot for a few things to see what it might be. For example, if you see a loose valve, chances are you can tighten it up yourself and get rid leak. However, if you cannot determine where the leak is coming from or it appears that something is wrong with your tank, you will need to call a professional plumber out to address the situation.

Finding the Leak

In learning why do water heaters leak, you will be prepared for whatever leak your water heater throws at you. If you find any of the following issues with your hot water heater, make sure to call your local plumber today. You can only do it yourself on certain things like tightening plumbing fitting. If you try to fix it yourself, you run the risk of electrical shock, damaging your hot water heater, and if you have a gas hot water heater, you run the risk of hooking up the gas wrong or causing a gas leak.

• Valves. There are valves in your hot water heater that should be inspected when you find your water heater leaking. The drain valve, which is connected at the bottom, will need to be inspected to ensure it is not leaking. The pressure relief valve at the top of your hot water heater will also need to be inspected. If you find that they are leaking, they will need to be replaced or tightened.
• Water pressure. The temperature-pressure relief valve will release water when it senses too much pressure. If the water pressure is causing the issue, it may be caused by the temperature dial being set up too high. It also can be because the temperature-pressure relief valve is faulty. You will need to replace it to ensure that there is no excessive buildup of steam. If steam builds up excessively in your hot water heater, it will cause the tank to explode. You will need to get your local plumbing company out to fix it as soon as possible.
• Condensation. In some cases, the leaks are caused by condensation. If this is the case, you need to go to each of your valves to make sure they are tight. If you cannot get them tight or you continue to see condensation buildup, call your local plumber out to address the situation. They should be able to determine exactly what is going on with your hot water heater.
• Bottom water heater leaks. If you find that your water heater leaking is coming from the bottom of your hot water heater away from the valves, this is a strong indicator that your hot water heater tank has been corroding. This corrosion has now eaten through the tank, and the tank may burst and flood your home. If you see water coming out of your tank, call a plumber out for a plumbing emergency immediately. A leaking tank can burst quickly.
• Vent. If you have a gas hot water heater and you see condensation coming from the vent, you will need to make sure that are not any obstructions. If there are any obstructions, the flue will need to be cleaned. If you have never cleaned one of these or you are unsure what to do, you will want to call your local professional plumber to do this for you. If it is clogged, your water heater will not work efficiently, and it could stop working altogether.

Now that you learned why do water heaters leak, you will want to make sure that you keep an eye on your hot water heater. Just because it is not bad right now does not mean at some point it might develop a leak. It is a good idea to get in the habit of inspecting your hot water heater at least one time a month. Leaks that are left alone and not addressed can cause issues with high power bills and damage to your home. If you are having issues with your hot water heater, call E Dennis today. This plumbing company can come out to address your leaking hot water heater to ensure that they get it fixed properly. If your water heater has corroded beyond repair, they can install a new hot water heater replacement for you.