How Does A Hot Water Heater Work
First, it is important to understand how your water heater works! Let’s dive in!
To start with, cold water enters the tank through the inlet pipes. Next, a dip tube brings the cold water down to the bottom of the tank to be heated. In an Electric Water Heater there are two electrical elements, one near the top and the other near the bottom, that heat the water inside.
If you have a Gas Water Heater then the burner assembly lights a flame. Then, this flame warms the bottom of your water tank, therefore warming the water inside. Then the fumes from the combustion gas escape through a round silver pipe. In addition to venting the flue gases, this pipe also warms the water.
Finally, this water exits the heater through the outlet pipe to be dispersed in your home.
Water Heater Repair & Replacement Services
When you find yourself in the middle of a water heater emergency, you need reliable same-day service to give you peace of mind. We offer dependable water heater repair and water heater replacement services for homes in areas such as Delaware, Northeastern Maryland, Southern New Jersey, and Southeastern Pennsylvania. By providing guaranteed 24-hour customer service and on-time arrivals, our team has been the trusted provider for homeowners for over 30 years. In addition, we offer other types of plumbing services such as water softener installation, sump pump repair, drain cleaning, and water line replacement. When you need a company you can count on to provide top-notch water heater repair and replacement services, call the professionals on our team at .
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Use Your Ears To Hear The Water Heater Leaking
If youre concerned that you may have a water leak, turn off external sources of sound like the radio or television and let your senses be your guide. Many times you can hear a leak before any sign of water damage is apparent. If you hear water rushing or dripping while you stand beside your water heater, follow the sound and search for visual confirmation of a leak. If you can hear water, but no leak is apparent, there may be a break inside the tank. This can happen as a result of normal wear and tear and requires replacing the tank.
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Get Expert Help For A Leaky Water Heater
A leaky water heater can cause extensive property damage if left unchecked. The repair can range from sometime relatively simple to a full replacement. If you notice water leaking from your water heater, have it checked by a professional plumber. Your local pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing can access the problem quickly and offer you the best option for a repair or replacement. Contact your local Mr. Rooter at 982-2028 or request an estimate online today.
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Follow These Steps To Assess The Situation
If you experience a leaking water heater, it is recommended to turn off the water to your tank. Your water heater tank should have a dedicated shutoff valve on the cold inlet pipes.
- If this is a gate-style valve , turn the valve clockwise as far as you can.
- If the valve is a ball-style valve, turn the handle 180 degrees.
If the valve is broken, you can shut the water off to your home. Each home should have a main water shut off valve that would stop the flow of water to the entire house. If you are unable to locate this shut-off valve, please give us a call and we can schedule a time to have one of our service technicians out to your home to help you right away.
Follow the steps below for either an electric or a gas water heater.
Electric Water Heater
If you have an electric water heater and are experiencing difficulty, we recommend that you shut off the power at the breaker before working with the tank. Just flip the breaker to off.
Gas Water Heater
If you have a leaking gas-powered water heater, we recommend that you shut off the gas supply before working with the tank. There should be a dedicated gas shut off valve on the gas line leading to the tank. See below for a visual illustration of a gas water heater shut down.
Once your water and power have been turned off, you can better assess the situation and determine where exactly the leak may be coming from.
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What To Do With A Leaking Water Heater
Water heaters can last a long time, but even the best ones can leak. A leaking water heater doesnt mean that it needs replacing, but you will want to fix any leaks as soon as possible. Even a small amount of water can cause a huge amount of damage, so its important to asses the situation as soon as possible.
First, find where the leak is coming from. Even if a small amount of water is below your water heater, it may not be the water heater that is leaking. Wipe up the water and inspect the area. Are any of the fittings wet or are you seeing any other signs of leakage?
Check your surroundings for other possible sources of water. Is the water found near a window or another water pipe? Keeping gravity in mind, if your floor slopes at all, water may have traveled from another area to where you found it.
If you cant determine the cause right away, put down some paper towels where you found the water and check back in a few hours to a day or two.
When you come back, If the towels are wet, then you know there is a problem and the water heater may be the culprit.
If youve determined that it is your water heater that is leaking, follow the steps below to asses the situation or just give us a call to have one of our skilled technicians come take a look.
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How Do You Test A Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve
Lift the lever on the top of the valve to verify that the hot water is being expelled from the overflow tube. Quickly release the lever, and if it doesnt spring back into place quickly, it means that you will need to replace the valve.
Use caution when testing your valve to prevent hot water from being slashed on you. Some plumbers recommend testing the valve every six months, while others recommend testing it every two years.
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The Drain Valve Is Loose
The drain valve is a crucial part of a water heater that allows you to empty and/or clean the tank. The drain valve tends to loosen over time, allowing water to leak from its base. If this is the case for your drain valve, you might try tightening it yourself or calling in a plumber. But there might be a chance that your drain valve is simply worn out, in which case, youll have to replace it entirely.
Best Course Of Action: Call A Plumber For Water Heater Service
If your water heater keeps leaking after you check that the drain valve is tightly closed, call a reliable plumbing company for water heater repair service. If it turns out to be a small issue, you will spend relatively little money to ensure that your water heater is sound and stop the leak. If its a more serious matter, a plumber can fix dangerous safety failures or help you replace your water heater.
If your water heater is leaking in Dallas, Texas, call Frymire Home Services for water heater repair. Our expert team can quickly diagnose your water heater and make repairs to stop the leak. In the event of tank failure, we can help you replace your water heater with a new gas, electric, traditional, or tankless water heater.
For water heater repair and replacement in Dallas, count on the expert plumbers at Frymire Home Services. Call us at 469-346-4999 or contact us online today!
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The First Thing To Do With A Leaking Water Heater Is
The first thing you need to do is turn off the water supply to your water heater.
There should be two pipes on top of your water heater. One will be hot to the touch and the other will be cold. Some producers mark them with red and blue collars or paint, as well as indicating which is which.
The water supply line is the cold one. When hot water is used, it allows cold water to enter your water heater. Look for a shutoff valve along the route most water heaters include one on the water supply line.
Although the majority of water heaters feature a shutoff valve on their water supply line, some do not. In this situation, you’ll need to use your home’s main shut-off valve to turn off the water. This will stop all incoming water from reaching your house, including the water supply to your water heater.
Other Temperature And Pressure Relief Valve Leaks
If you have already replaced the temperature and pressure relief valve and it continues to leak, there may be another underlying problem with your water heater. For instance, if there is too much pressure built up in the tank, the temperature and pressure relief valve will still continue to do its job and try to relieve the pressure. However, if there is excess pressure in the tank, the water will likely leak out of the temperature and pressure relief valve.
If this is the case, the fix becomes more complex. An expansion tank may need to be installed somewhere on the plumbing system. It is best to rely on a certified technician from B& L Ott. They have enough experience to be able to pinpoint the issue and ensure your water heater receives the proper fix.
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Electric Water Heater Leaks Versus Gas Water Heater Leaks
If you still havent found a leak, but want to take a closer look, what you do next depends on whether your water heater is gas or electric.
Electric Water Heater
If you suspect your electric water heater is leaking, but are unsure of the source, turn off power to the heater. Remove the access panel and safety shield to check around the elements for signs of staining and water heater leaking.
If leaks are apparent, but the tank is relatively new, you may need to tighten nuts and bolts. If this does not work, element washers may need to be replaced.
Gas Water Heater
For gas heaters, if you see rust without signs of a leak, condensation may be forming inside the tank. Use your eyes and ears to check for water dripping onto the burner while it is in use.
Water dripping onto the burner between heating cycles could be a sign of tank failure. If you observe this happening, you can turn the gas off via a switch or dial on the side of the heater until you have the tank replaced. A puddle of water on the floor could also come from tank condensation.
Note: whether your water heater usages gas or electricity, make sure it is securely anchored to the wall. You do not want it to fall during an earthquake. Bracing kits are available at local hardware stores to help make this process quick and easy!
Why Is Your Water Heater Leaking
When a homes water heater leaks, the repercussions are often quite serious. If the leak lets out water for a long period of time, water damage ruins floors, walls, and precious possessions. Homeowners want to fix leaks fast, but dont always know where they come from or why they happen. However, this knowledge saves homeowners money and time. Luckily, leaks are easy to identify when you know where to look.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Thomas & Galbraiths plumbers inform homeowners about this important issue. Water heaters are dangerous when they leak in certain areas, so its important to take all leaks seriously. We cover the reasons why leaks occur in the water heater. We also speak about why those causes happen in the first place. This information helps homeowners differentiate between minor leaks and replacement worthy ones.
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Address The Problem Areas
Its now time for the actual repairs, and they can range from being rather simple to remarkably complicated.
If the issue is related to cold and hot water inlets and outlets, you could resolve the problem yourself.
Check out the connections and see if there are any spots where they are loose. Bust out your wrench and tighten them. Doing that should be enough to get rid of your leaking issue.
Things wont be quite as easy if the issues plaguing your water heater are related to the valves. There may be something off with the water pressure, but the issue could also be a broken valve.
In that case, you will need to replace the valve.
You could try to do that yourself, but if you lack the experience, you may end up making things worse. This is the point where you should strongly consider reaching out to the skilled and experienced professionals who handle these repairs all the time.
Lastly, if the tank itself already has a sizable hole in it, repairs may no longer work. You may need to invest in a replacement water heater at that point.
Water Heater Leaking Here Are 6 Possible Reasons Why
Why is my water heater leaking? Figuring out the underlying problem is the first step towards solving it. This article will help you understand whats going on with your heater & what to do about it.
People often complain about a water heater leaking without understanding the underlying problems. A competent HVAC contractor can fix your water heater quickly and thoroughly, but you must ensure the problem doesnt happen again. Understanding what causes a water heater to leak will help you prevent the issue from becoming worse and fix things if they aren’t that bad.
If your water heater leaks from the top, its about time you learn what caused it, how you can fix it, and prevent the problem from resurfacing in the future.
In this article, well help you understand just that.
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Look At The Temperature & Pressure Release Valve
Another possible place for leaks is the temperature and pressure valve. A leak at the T& P valve is a more serious situation and you will want to take the time to figure out the cause. A T& P valve will not usually begin dripping or leaking unless there is a bigger problem.
If the valve was removed recently, it’s possible it is now failing to seal properly. Tightening the valve, or reinstalling it with fresh plumber’s tape wrapped around the threads, may solve the problem.
If the water heater is heating the water too much, the excessive pressure may be causing the T& P valve to leak. The solution might be to lower the water temperature or to install a water expansion tank if you don’t already have one in your plumbing system.
Solved: Why Is My Hot Water Heater Leaking Water
If you come home to a puddle of water under your water heater its time to take a closer look. Water leakage can be a sign that there is something wrong with your water heater and it needs attention. We will discuss some of the most common reasons why hot water heaters leak and what you can do about it. We also have some helpful tips and insights on how to maintain your water heater so that you can avoid any costly repairs in the future.
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How To Troubleshoot A Leaky Water Heater
Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron’s articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
- Working Time: 15 – 30 mins
- Total Time: 15 – 30 mins
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Estimated Cost: $0 to $500+, depending on the issue
The methods for fixing a leaking water heater can range from very easy to highly challenging. At the first sign of leaking, many people leap to the conclusion that the water heater must be replaced, but that’s not always necessary. Many potential fixes are actually rather simple and inexpensive, and sometimes replacing a broken part can extend the life of the water heater for several years. Here are several things to look for when diagnosing the source of a leak and determining the proper fix.
Theres Too Much Pressure
When the hot water within your water heater creates steam, the steam fills the empty space and in turn, creates pressure. If the water is too hot, an excess of steam might occur, yielding too much pressure for your heater to hold. This could create cracks or holes in the water tank from which water will leak. To prevent this from happening, lower the temperature of your water heater.
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Damage To Home And Belongings
Finally, one of the most common threats hot water leaks present is damage to your property. Water leaks can damage the walls, floors, foundation, and other belongings near your water heater. Moisture in the area can also lead to issues such as mold and mildew. If you notice a leak, clean it up thoroughly as soon as possible. Just make sure the area is safe to be in first. You should also monitor the area after a leak for mold and mildew.