Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Tips To Hot Water Heater Leaking

By Brian Winters


A water heater is one of the most important appliances in your household, no matter how much it is often ignored. It is designed to supply hot water for doing the laundry, cleaning dishes, taking showers and other household chores. Due to wear and tear, a water heater will eventually stop working over a period of time. At times like this, find the cause of the problem with the help from a specialist.

Before carrying out repairs, the heating source of the water heater should always be turned off. Shut down the circuit breaker if you have an electric-powered unit or the gas supply valve if you have a gas water heater. Do not take this lightly since water heaters can be dangerous if not handled properly. To prevent water from entering the tank, do not forget to turn off the cold water supply valve.

First thing to check is the valves and pipes going into and out of the unit. To prevent water from leaking, there are gaskets installed around the pipe connections. Due to wear and tear, the gaskets can deteriorate over time, causing water to leak easily. Once you notice water puddles near the water heater, check all loose connections and tighten the pipes when necessary.

If you have a rusty or loose dip tube, expect water to leak easily. The dip tube is responsible for leading the cold water down to the burner where it can be heated properly. You may experience having insufficient hot water running in your taps if the dip tubes are loose. Ask help from a specialist, especially since leaks coming from the internal tank are harder to detect.

It is safe to assume that a replacement water heater is needed once the internal tank has completely corroded. When this happens, excessive sediments may have been sitting at the bottom of the tank, eventually eating the internal lining until holes appear. Patching the holes will only lessen your unit's efficiency, causing it to consume more energy than it used to.

If you have a faulty relief valve, expect water to leak easily. This valve is designed to release the pressure buildup inside the tank. Test it by lifting the handle while allowing it water to flow out. Water should stop draining from the overflow pipe once the lever snaps back on its own. Replace it as soon as it stops working.

Avoid pressure buildup by lowering the temperature of your tank between 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Doing this protects you from scalding burns while killing all the bacteria in your water. Do not set the temperature lower than 120 to avoid having germ-filled water running in your hot water taps.

If you think the damage is beyond your ability to repair, contact a specialist for professional help. Attempting to fix the issue on your own can cause the problem to escalate, leading to a more expensive water heater repair. Water heater leaks can be prevented through regular care and maintenance.




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