Why Is Water Heater Leaking

If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you.

Why is water heater leaking.

When you see water coming out from the water heater release valve there are two most likely causes. This is caused by years of sediment building up in the bottom of the water heater tank. The first thing you ll want to do is determine where the water heater leak is located. If after attempting to fix the problem your water heater is still leaking turn off the power and cold water supply and contact a professional plumber.

In most cases when a water heater is leaking from the top it s usually pretty easy to pinpoint to leak. It s on the cold water pipe which supplies water to the water heater. If you experience a leaking water heater it is recommended to turn off the water to your tank. Find the cold water inlet valve.

Turn off the water. Why it s leaking and what to do about it water heaters come equipped with a temperature and pressure relief valve also known as a tprv. Eventually the bottom of the tank will rust through and begin to leak. The threads are the thinnest part on the nipple and it is not unusual to find leaks in them.

Is the leak on the top of the water heater if so continue on to the section below labeled my water heater is leaking from the top. A leaking water heater can be a symptom to a more serious problem so it s important to always keep a close eye on your heater after performing any repairs. Your water heater tank should have a dedicated shutoff valve on the cold inlet pipes. What to do with a leaking water heater step 1.

A leaking relief valve at the water heater. The most likely scenario in this case is that sediment has built up and corroded the bottom of the tank causing a serious problem and the need for an entirely new water heater. The relief valve is working the way it s intended and water drained to reduce the pressure inside the tank. Before you resign yourself to replacing the entire water heater take a few minutes to determine where the leak is actually coming from and you may be able to fix the leak yourself with little or no cost.

The water heater nipples on top of the water heater which connect the water heater to the cold water inlet pipe and to the hot water exit pipe is another common place to find leaks. Luckily we re here to help. Most water heaters last between 10 to 13 years and if one is leaking from the bottom of the tank inside the burner compartment old age might be the cause. If this is a gate style valve a wheel that turns turn the valve clockwise as far as you can.

Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are. There s a problem with the valve such as a faulty seal and the water is unintentionally leaking.