Water heater leaks may develop over time without performing regular maintenance. When this happens, you might be surprised how much the internal components have corroded, causing water to discolor and smell bad. Some water heater leaks can be fixed easily while serious leaking issues are beyond any repairs. At times like this, consult a specialist to detect the cause of the leaks immediately. Doing this helps prevent problems from escalating.
Always take safety into account before carrying out water heater repairs. You can start by shutting down your circuit breaker or your gas supply valve. Doing this avoids fatal accidents from happening. It also helps informing everyone in your household not to fiddle with your heating source since you are in the process of repairing your water heater. To prevent water from entering your storage tank, close the cold-water supply valve. It's always wise to work in a safe environment to protect you from the dangers of performing hot water heater repairs.
Loose pipe fittings can result to water heater leaks. Solve the problem by using a wrench to tighten the fittings. However, this is not applicable if your unit comes with soldered pipe connections. You can re-solder the piping or replace them to stop water from leaking. Since soldering is not an easy task, it's better to ask help from a professional.
Another area to check on is the T&P valve. You can find this fitting on the side of your storage tank. Test it by releasing the lever and allow it snap back on its own. Water should not exit from the overflow pipe once the lever is released. If this is not the case, you may need to replace the valve immediately. Do not forget to shut-down and drain your tank before doing so.
To release water, attach a garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom the water heater. Avoid scalding by placing the other end to a secure floor drain or gutter. Open the drain valve and let the water drain empty. Look the unions going in and out of your unit and disconnect them. You can use a bucket to catch the residual water from the pipe fittings.
If your pipes are badly damaged, consider replacing them as soon as possible. You can use a Teflon tape or sealants on the threading to stop water from leaking. Tighten the pipes in a clockwise direction; however, be careful not to over tighten them as this can cause further damage. Once the pipes are tightened enough, you can now attach the pipes and connect the two unions.
At this point, water leaks should have stopped. You can test it by closing the drain valve and opening any hot-water tap inside your house. Refill your tank until full and look for possible areas of leaks. You can tell if the repair was a success if there are not water drips and puddles around your water heater.
To know whether your tank needs a repair or replacement, observe where the leaks are coming from. Since all water heater tanks are sealed units, repairing leaks from the internal tank is nearly impossible. It is very rare for an average DIY handy persons to repair holes right at the bottom of the tank. Some prefer to patch the holes without knowing that this will only minimize the efficiency of your heater. It is best to replace your water heater if the leak is coming from the tank itself. To be sure, contact a specialist and ask what needs to be done to stop your water from leaking.
Always take safety into account before carrying out water heater repairs. You can start by shutting down your circuit breaker or your gas supply valve. Doing this avoids fatal accidents from happening. It also helps informing everyone in your household not to fiddle with your heating source since you are in the process of repairing your water heater. To prevent water from entering your storage tank, close the cold-water supply valve. It's always wise to work in a safe environment to protect you from the dangers of performing hot water heater repairs.
Loose pipe fittings can result to water heater leaks. Solve the problem by using a wrench to tighten the fittings. However, this is not applicable if your unit comes with soldered pipe connections. You can re-solder the piping or replace them to stop water from leaking. Since soldering is not an easy task, it's better to ask help from a professional.
Another area to check on is the T&P valve. You can find this fitting on the side of your storage tank. Test it by releasing the lever and allow it snap back on its own. Water should not exit from the overflow pipe once the lever is released. If this is not the case, you may need to replace the valve immediately. Do not forget to shut-down and drain your tank before doing so.
To release water, attach a garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom the water heater. Avoid scalding by placing the other end to a secure floor drain or gutter. Open the drain valve and let the water drain empty. Look the unions going in and out of your unit and disconnect them. You can use a bucket to catch the residual water from the pipe fittings.
If your pipes are badly damaged, consider replacing them as soon as possible. You can use a Teflon tape or sealants on the threading to stop water from leaking. Tighten the pipes in a clockwise direction; however, be careful not to over tighten them as this can cause further damage. Once the pipes are tightened enough, you can now attach the pipes and connect the two unions.
At this point, water leaks should have stopped. You can test it by closing the drain valve and opening any hot-water tap inside your house. Refill your tank until full and look for possible areas of leaks. You can tell if the repair was a success if there are not water drips and puddles around your water heater.
To know whether your tank needs a repair or replacement, observe where the leaks are coming from. Since all water heater tanks are sealed units, repairing leaks from the internal tank is nearly impossible. It is very rare for an average DIY handy persons to repair holes right at the bottom of the tank. Some prefer to patch the holes without knowing that this will only minimize the efficiency of your heater. It is best to replace your water heater if the leak is coming from the tank itself. To be sure, contact a specialist and ask what needs to be done to stop your water from leaking.
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