Determine The Source Of Your Water Heater Leak

by Grace Motley

Your water heater is probably one appliance that you don't give too much thought about. You get up in the morning and hop into a nice, warm shower. But that day the water runs cold, that's when you start to think about your water heater. When you investigate to see what the problem is, you find a puddle of water all over the floor.  While you may think a leak may mean a minor adjustment, that may not necessarily be the case. Here are some ways for you to determine what is causing the leak so that you can get yourself back to enjoying nice warm showers again.

Determine the Source of the Leak

Just because you find a puddle of water on the floor near your water heater does not necessarily mean that it's due to a leak from the heater. There are other pipes around the water heater, and your washing machine may be located nearby as well. The water can also be from condensation build-up. To determine exactly where the water is coming from, wipe the area dry and inspect the water heater for obvious signs of leakage. 

Finding the Location of the Leak

There are a few different sources to consider:

  • Cold water inlet or hot water outlet: You may want to check the points where the cold water comes into the heater or where the hot water leaves the heater and enters the home's plumbing. This may be a minor leak that only needs a loose connection to be tightened. 
  • Drain valve: The drain valve is located at the bottom of the water tank. Be certain it closes completely. If you find your leak is from this location, its a relatively easy repair. 
  • Bottom of the tank: The tank is wrapped in insulation, and a leak at the bottom won't be visible from the outside. Many times leaks at the bottom of the water tank are due to age of the tank, and if you find this to be the case, you may want to consider replacing your water heater.

Shut off Water and Power 

After you are sure the source of the water is the water heater, turn off the power supply to the heater. Once you are certain the power supply has been shut down, turn off the water supply to the water heater by way of the cold water valve. Then call a water heater repair service.

Call your local water heater repair service, like StateWide Mechanical II Inc., for help with finding and repairing serious leaks. 

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