Five Steps For Dealing With A Leaky Hot Water Heater

About Me
Plumbing For Sanitation Purposes

Do you remember the last time you started paying more attention to your home plumbing? It isn't always easy to tackle plumbing problems on your own, which is why I started focusing more and more on working with someone who knew what they were doing. It was really interesting to see how much of a difference it made to me to have a pro come in and take care of the job, and within a few short weeks, things had been completely taken care of. This blog is all about plumbing for sanitation purposes to streamline your life. Check it out!

Search

Five Steps For Dealing With A Leaky Hot Water Heater

2 July 2020
 Categories: , Blog


1. Shut Down the Heat

The most dangerous part of a leaking hot water heater is trying to clean up scalding water. Electrical shorts can also be an issue if the water leaks into the power source. Shutting down the power at the breaker box will help you to avoid both of these issues. Often, the water heater will be on its own breaker, so it won't affect the rest of your home when you cut off power to the water heater. If you can easily access the heater without burning yourself, then you can shut down the power directly on the water heater by using an off switch or switching off the pilot light.

2. Turn Off the Water Supply

Next, shut down the water to the hot water heater to reduce the amount of water that can leak out. There should be a water shutoff valve near the heater. If you can't find the valve specifically for the heater, then you will need to turn off the water main until you can locate the heater-specific valve. You can typically find the shutoff valve by tracing the water line as it leads to the tank. The valve will be somewhere along this line.

3. Drain the Tank

If water continues to leak from the tank even after you have shut down the supply, then you need to give it a safer outlet. Near the bottom of the tank is a drain valve with a hose attachment. Attach a garden hose to this valve and then route it out a window or into a floor or bathtub drain. Open the valve so that the water can flow through the hose. Keep in mind that the water coming from the valve will be hot, so use caution while draining the tank.

4. Call a Plumber

Once the immediate issue is under control, you need to call a plumber ASAP. In many cases, a cracked tank will need to be replaced, but sometimes the damage that causes the leak is much more minor. For example, a failed valve seal or broken water line may be the cause of the leak. In this case, the plumber can simply repair the problem.

5. Address the Mess

Start soaking up the water before the plumber arrives. It will be easier for them to work in a relatively dry environment, plus prompt cleaning will prevent water damage. Use towels and wet mop to absorb the standing water, and a large fan to dry any remaining condensation. Wipe all surfaces down with a bleach solution so that mold doesn't grow.

Walking in on a leaking hot water heater is never fun, but with quick action, you can minimize the damage until a water heater repair contractor arrives to fix the problem.