These tools will include a safety feature that protects your home, and a key component of that safety is that the unit doesn’t leak.
However, even the most durable, well-made water heaters can eventually start to leak. This can be an extremely annoying scenario to occur, and can result in a lot of damage.
But, is a leaking water heater dangerous? What are the risks if this happens, and how can you solve the issue yourself?
Before we start looking into the dangers of a leaking water heater, it would be helpful to start at the very beginning, and identify how this scenario has occurred.
This is something that you will want to keep in mind for future preventative measures.
When a water heater begins to leak, it is, more often than not, the result of a drain valve that has become faulty or loosened.
If this is the reason behind your leaking water heater, it could be good news: the issue may potentially be fixed by you simply tightening up the valve.
Another common reason for a water heater to start leaking is the same reason that most household items break; it has aged and deteriorated over time.
Cracks will ultimately develop as the interior of the tank breaks down from rust accumulation, allowing water to ultimately leak out.
Other potential reasons that a water heater may begin to leak is due to high temperatures, a corroded anode rod, a damaged storage tank, or a nonfunctional pressure valve.
Where Do Leaks Develop On A Water Heater?
Finding the source of the leak will enable you to identify the issue and whether it is a major concern that needs to be dealt with ASAP (which, it almost always should be).
The location can also tell you if the repairs will be inexpensive or expensive.
Leaks can occur at the drain valve, the inlet valves, the exit valves, the slack temperature and pressure relief valves, and numerous other places in a water heater.
No matter where a leak appears, it is always important to make sure you address it quickly. You may do this by doing it yourself, or by hiring experts.
It’s worth noting that doing the repairs yourself will ultimately save you a few hundred dollars in maintenance costs.
Identifying A Leaking Water Heater
Water heaters are frequently mounted in discreet areas of your home, which makes it difficult to keep an eye on them 24/7. As a consequence, you might not initially be able to clearly see any leakages if they were to occur.
When signs of a leak appear in the plumbing in your home, or when it becomes visible through the ceiling or a nearby wall, it will become fairly obvious that your water heater has begun to leak.
Your water heater may be leaking if you observe a loss of hot water pressure in your faucets, water accumulating at the bottom of the water heater, or a loss of pressure in your faucets around the house.
You might also observe that your ceiling has started to deform.
Is A Leaking Water Heater An Emergency?
A leaking water heater is, in fact, regarded as an emergency. This kind of situation is not something to be disregarded, and needs to be handled right away by an experienced plumbing professional.
Over the course of time, your home may become seriously damaged from the leak.
The room in which the leak took place in, along with the rooms adjacent and above, will eventually become exacerbated by the environment, as the leaking water will encourage dampness and mold growth within your property.
The best method to benefit from a water heater’s conveniences over the long term is to make sure that regular servicing is carried out by a qualified specialist.
If there are any leaks, make sure to contact a plumber immediately to handle the issue professionally.
If you know how to fix the issue yourself, even better. This will save you a lot of money in the long run, and may also result in a faster repair, as you will be able to manage the situation immediately.
How To Manage A Leaking Water Heater
Even if you are unaware how to patch up or fix a leaking water heater, it is absolutely essential that you learn what to do in this situation.
Even while you are waiting for professionals to arrive to fix the problem, there are steps you can take to prevent any further damage in that time.
The first thing you will want to do is turn off the water supply, in order to prevent as much water damage as possible. You will also want to turn off the power supply.
Once you have done this, you can begin to seek out the location of the leak, and even figure out how this situation even came to occur. You may be able to work this out once you have figured out where the leak is coming from.
Finally, you will need to call a plumber, especially if you are unsure how to fix the issue yourself.
It cannot be stressed enough that you should not try to fix the leakage if you don’t know how to, as this can – and will – lead to further complications.
Final Thoughts
A leaking water heater is considered to be an emergency, and the issue will need to be resolved ASAP in order to avoid further damage to your home.
In the event of a water heater leak, always remember to shut off the water and power supply, and call a plumber immediately. The sooner you call for a professional, the sooner the issue can be resolved.
Hi everyone! My name is Jason, and I am the founder of HeaterWise.com. Having run my own business as a Heating Engineer for 21 years, I have picked up a few things along the way.
I wanted to create Heater Wise as a place where anyone could come, from far and wide, to find the information that they need.
I hope you will join us here at Heater Wise, to get started on your own journey, to expand your knowledge, and make the best heating choices for you and your family.
