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Is Your Water Heater Leaking?

Water heater leaking

When David stepped into his garage and saw that he had a water heater leak he began to panic imagining huge water heater repair bills. Fret not, while some water heater leaks are serious and require the assistance of a plumber, others are less serious and can be fixed by you. So stay calm and investigate to see how serious the problem is before you do anything else.

Water heater leaking quick fixes

If you notice your water heater leaking right when it turns on but the water goes away after the heater has warmed up, then you merely have a case of condensation and it is nothing to worry about. This problem will fix itself as soon as the water heater has warmed up.

Another simple issue that could be causing your problem is a loose drain valve. The drain valve is the faucet with a knob at the bottom of your water heater. By tightening the valve, you can fix your water heater leak right then and there. Get a small pail to hold under the drain valve. Shut the power off or turn the gas valve to Pilot. Run enough hot water in one of the sinks to cool the water down some. The water in your tank can be very hot. Be careful. Get a screwdriver and open the valve. Keep the pail under the spigot. This will blow any sediment out of the seal. Allow enough water to spray out to give it a good flushing. Now tighten the valve.

One other quick fix for a water heater leak is to adjust the temperature of your unit. If your temperature is too high, it can cause water to leak out of the temperature-pressure (TP) relief valve. The recommended temperature for your water heater is 120 degrees, so take a look at your temperature and turn it down if it is set higher than that. If it’s not, and you are still seeing a leak out of your TP relief valve, this could be an indication of a much more serious problem.

What to do when you experience serious water heater leaking

If your leaking water heater is not caused by one of the above situations, it’s best to contact a plumber. Call an expert like Plumbing Masters and get a plumber out to your home. While you are waiting for the plumber to arrive, follow these steps in order to prevent any further damage:

  • Turn off the power to your water heater by either shutting off the gas valve or cutting off electricity at your circuit breaker depending on the type of water heater you own.
  • Turn off the cold water valve so no additional water flows in.
  • Drain the water out of your water heater by attaching a hose to the drain valve and draining the water into a sink, gutter or floor drain.

When your plumber arrives, tell them all the steps you went through as it will give them a good place to start.
Remember Plumbing Masters is here 24/7 for a leaking water heater repair or any of your plumbing needs, and we back all our work with our AM/PM Guarantee. Call (602) 296-1127 to schedule an appointment.

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