Steps to Follow When You Notice a Water Heater Leak

A reliable water heater can serve you for many years without problems as long as you take good care of it. Even so, there’s always a chance your unit could leak. When your water heater leaks, the consequences can be disastrous if you don’t take quick action. Even a small trickle of water can turn into a flood that will wreck your flooring and cause mold growth. Luckily, knowing what to do when your water heater leaks can help you prevent further damage to your property.

Common Reasons Behind Water Heater Leaks

Faulty temperature and pressure relief valve
Loose drain valve
Too much pressure
Loose water line connections
Sediment buildup
Cracked storage tank
Corroded anode rod

In this guide, we will talk about what you’ll need to do if you notice your water heater leaking.

Do Some Troubleshooting

There are many things that can cause water heater leaks. Therefore, the first thing you should do when you notice your water heater leaking is to detect the cause of the leak. If the leak is not obvious, closely examine all the components of your water heater that could leak. Sometimes water may accumulate under your water heater as a result of condensation and this can make it look as though the unit is leaking.

If you can’t establish where the leak is coming from after inspecting your water heater, call a leak repair company for assistance.

Turn Off the Power

Once you’ve determined where the leak is coming from, turn off the power to your water heater. To turn off an electric water heater, find the breaker to your unit on the breaker panel and flip it to OFF. For a gas-powered water heater, locate your thermostat and turn the little knob to the OFF position.

Shut Off the Water Supply

The next step is to turn off the water supply to prevent more water from flowing into the unit. Find the valve on the cold water line leading to your water heater and turn it to the right. If your water heater doesn’t have a shutoff valve on its water supply line, you’ll need to shut off the water supply using your home’s main shut-off valve.

Drain The Water Tank

After you’ve managed to close off the water supply, proceed to drain the tank. To drain the water tank, attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the unit and open the valve. The water tank will take about 30 minutes to drain.

Contact Leak Detection of Atlanta for Leak Detection and Leak Repair

If you suspect a leak in your home or have a burst pipe, it’s important to act fast to prevent water damage in your property. If leaking water sits on your property for too long, you may spend a lot of money on repairs and making replacements. Call Leak Detection of Atlanta to help you with leak detection and leak repair.