Is Your Water Heater Leaking? Like a Leak in a Dam, a Water Heater Leak May be Tolerable for a While, But Beware Should the Dam Burst Is Your Water Heater Leaking? A leak in your water heater may appear as a small problem but once the leak continues, it may cause some serious damage to your home. The leak can slowly damage the walls and the floors and ultimately should the worst thing happen flood your basement or utility room and adjacent areas. This can lead to significant mess as well as cost for repairs. Aside from the serious flooding concern, a leaking water heater may pose health issues. When there is a leak, it can keep the walls and the floor wet and moist leading to mold growth. Mold in turn can result in illness and or allergic reactions as many molds are toxic. When there is a leak in your water heater, it’s important to control the damage by having it repaired as soon as possible. The leak doesn’t just go away. The longer you allow the leak to occur, the more damage it will cause. Here are some steps in order to do an investigation on the leaking problem of your water heater and ways to go about it: Find where the water heater leak is coming from The leak can be caused by different things or by different parts of the water heater or its surroundings. It’s important to know the source of the leak to know what type of action needs to be done in order to find a solution to the problem. These are some of the possible areas where a leak may occur in your water heater: Heater Drain Valve: This valve can be found at the bottom of the water tank. The drain valve should be completely closed. Its purpose is to drain the tank in order to remove the sediment that builds up in the tank and can cause. The point of entry of the heater drain valve should be tight. A leak from this part of the water heater does not pose serious problems and can be easily fixed by replacing the drain valve. Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve: Each water heater has a pressure and temperature relief valve that can be found on the side of the tank. Its purpose is to release water once the water gets too hot and there is too much pressure inside the tank. The T/P valve should be watertight. The valve has a discharge pipe or tube attached to the valve which is directed towards Temperature Pressure Relief Valve the floor. If the T/P valve is causing the leak, water will flow down the pipe or tube despite the valve being in a closed position. Another sign that the leak is coming from the T/P valve is if a puddle of water forms at the bottom part of the hot water tank and if the pipe or tube is moist or damp. The problem can either be a faulty T/P valve or there might be too much pressure inside the tank. This problem can be fixed easily by replacing the T/P valve or by asking a plumber to fix the problem regarding the internal pressure. Hot Water Outlet and Cold Water Inlet Connections: You should check the point of connection between the outlets and inlets and the water heater on the top portion. The usual problem here is a loose connection which can be easily fixed by tightening the connection by using a pipe wrench. Bottom of the Hot Water Tank: The water tank is normally wrapped inside insulation and is confined in an outer cover or protection. A leak from this part of the water heater won’t be noticed easily. If there is a leak inside the water heater, water will slowly leak at the bottom of the tank. The leaks in the water tank may be caused by deterioration and age and it may also be caused by a build-up of sediments inside the tank which can rust and crack and eventually lead to leakage. For this kind of problem, you need to replace your water heater. Turn off the power supply to the heater Once you determine the cause of the leak, it’s important to turn off the power supply in order to prevent further damage. For electric water heater, you can turn off the breaker on the electrical panel while for gas water heater, just simply look for the on/off dial and turn the dial to the off position. Turn off the water supply The next thing to do to prevent more damage is to turn off the water supply found at the cold water shut-off valve which can be found above the water heater. You can also turn off the water supply by turning the lever parallel to the pipe or turning the dial clockwise. Repair or Replace the Water Heater For the simple problems that can easily be fixed just like a problem with a loose connection between the outlets and inlets and the water heater, you can do it on your own. You can also easily replace parts that need to be replaced such as the heater drain valve or the temperature and pressure relief valve. You can gauge how serious the problem is and how comfortable you are in performing the repairs yourself. If it’s a simple task, then you can do it. But it’s always best to contact a plumber to do the repairs for you rather than perform the replacement yourself. Consider Going Tankless If you decide it’s time for a replacement water heater, you should take the time to consider whether or not to upgrade to a Tankless Water heater. While these cost more initially, they are environmentally and economically sound investment as you will use less energy over time. If you expect to remain in the house for any length of time they may well pay for themselves. Even if you are selling in the near future, a tankless system is an amenity your new buyers may well appreciate. Have Water Heaters Now Install Your New System Water Heaters Now is growing into the Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities Top Water Heater Installers. Their only business is installing replacement water heaters. When it is time to buy a new water heater, whether it is gas or electric, tank style or tankless, they are the go to experts with the best service and fair pricing. Call today for a free quote. And if you need a water heater installed yet today, call them before 2PM and they will get a crew to your house in time for you to have hot water tonight. 612-876-5553 The post Is Your Water Heater Leaking? appeared first on Water Heaters Now | Same Day Hot Water Heater Replacement Minneapolis, St Paul, Metro.