One of the worst things that can happen in your home that is as bad as a broken water heater is when it is essentially leaking. It could be a minor problem, but it can quickly turn into a major one if you don’t do something about it immediately!
Of course, you can remedy a small trickle of water by putting a bucket below while continuously cleaning your floors. But if the situation gets worse, and that small problem turns into a violent gush of water, that could result in flooding that will definitely cause more damage in the drywalls and sub-floorings.
To avoid causing these nuisances in your home, it is important to effectively and quickly know where the leak is coming from and how that problem could potentially create a bigger problem if you don’t handle it now.
We will share with you the four most common causes of water heater leaks and what you can do about them.
Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve
The temperature and pressure relief valve (T/P valve) plays an important role in making sure that your water heater is running properly. It controls both the pressure and water temperature within the heater tank.
If there is too much pressure in the tank or the water becomes too hot, the valve will drain some of the water out of the tank. To see if this is the cause of the leaking, check for water coming down the side of your tank from the T/P valve. To fix the issue, you can simply replace it with a new valve.
However, if you see that the T/P valve is working properly, you might just have to lessen the pressure in the water tank to prevent a bigger problem. If you are unable to do so, call a professional plumber to help you replace it.
Cold and Hot Water Inlet
If you think that the cold and hot water inlet is the source of the leak, then you won’t need to worry too much because it’s easy to fix. All you have to do is check the outlet pipe’s connections and the inlet to see if they are loose or if water is coming out. If yes, tighten the connection using a wrench or just change the pipeline.
Heater Drain Valve
Just like the T/P valve, the heater drain valve is also easy to fix. If you see that water is leaving through this drain valve, then check whether it has been closed properly. Now, if it still continues to leak, then you might just get a new valve and replace it.
Bottom of the Water Tank
Finally, if you have already checked the parts mentioned above and none of them is causing the issue, you should inspect the bottom of the tank to see if water is leaking. This is because sediments may form and build up at the bottom of the tank for years of usage so it will lead to corrosion and deterioration of the water tank, resulting in leaks. In this case, you may need to call a professional plumber to replace your overall water heater.
Conclusion
No matter how small or big the damage is, it’s always best to let the professionals handle it. Calling a licensed and professional plumber to diagnose and repair the source of the leak will help you save more time and money compared to doing it by yourself.
Good Guys Home Services can help you connect with technicians who can provide you with superior HVAC services. Contact us today to get your water heater fixed in a breeze!