If you see your water heater leaking, don’t panic. Water heaters leak for a variety of reasons. You may have nothing to worry about. But, if your water heater is leaking, it’s not something you can ignore; there’s also a chance that there is a serious issue.
The causes of water heater leaks can range from loose valves, to corroded water tanks, to just plain-and-simple condensation.
If you do find water around your heater’s tank, you will want to take care of the problem promptly. Even if your leaking has an innocent cause, all of that water can stain walls, cause mildew to form on carpets, or even cause decay in your subflooring.
So, what do you do?
Let’s go over the most innocent cause first – condensation.
Condensation occurs when cold water is poured into your heater’s tank. Once the tank heats up, the condensation will disappear. Since this is a result of basic science, there is not much you can do to eliminate this problem. Just keep an eye on it; if things get worse, you may have to take action.
But what if something more serious is to blame?
There may be excess pressure on your tank. If that’s the case, you will see water coming from the Temperature-Pressure (TP) relief valve. To fix it, you may need to adjust your thermostat. If that doesn’t work, call a professional. The last thing you want is a pressure build-up; if left untreated, it can cause an explosion.
Other reasons why you might see your water heater leaking include:
– Obstruction of a vent
This only occurs on gas water heaters. If this is your problem, shut off the water heater and clean out the vent (also called a “flue”). If the problem keeps up, call a plumber.
– Leakage of the heating gasket element
This only occurs on electric heaters. To fix it, shut off both the electricity and the water, then drain all of the water out of the heater. After that, replace the gasket.
– Leakage of the water pipes.
This problem can occur on any type of water heater. To fix it, simply tighten the fitting that’s closest to the leak.
– Leakage of the hot and cold line
Again, a simple tightening can solve the problem.
– Rust and corrosion
If this occurs, your only option may be to buy a new unit.
If your water heater is leaking, it’s a sign that you’re not doing enough to maintain it. Over time, sediment can settle in your unit. Not only does it make your water heater work harder, but it can cause rust and corrosion to pop up.
To prevent your water heater from leaking, check the valves and pipe connections frequently. If they look corroded or damaged, you can flush a bucketful of water out from a drain at the bottom of the tank to help remove sediment. Be very careful, however, when doing this; the water coming out will be very hot. You’ll need to work carefully to make sure you don’t get burned.
To keep leaks from damaging your home, you can:
– Protect the floor underneath the system by painting it with a water sealant. Just make sure that you turn off the heat source first; otherwise, you could spark a fire.
– Put either plywood or a drip pan underneath your unit. That way, you can avoid structural water damage. Just make sure the drip pan has a way to drain – or empty it frequently.
With proper upkeep, your water heater should run well and provide you with much-needed hot water for years to come.