Leaking Water Heater? Here are 5 Things You Should Do

Nobody wants to deal with a leaking water heater. But if your system has a leak, it’s important to resolve it quickly. Otherwise, you could risk significant damage to your walls, floor, and the areas around them. We’ve put together this guide to help you come up with an action plan.

Here are five things you should do when you notice your water heater is leaking.

1. Confirm the Source of the Leak

The first thing you want to do is find out where the leak is coming from. It may not be the water heater itself, but a pipe, another appliance, or your home’s plumbing system. Zeroing in on the cause of the leak will help you figure out what it’ll take to fix it.

2. Disconnect the Power Supply

Next on your list should be disconnecting the water heater from its power supply. Water heaters can warm water up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. If that water is leaking out of the system and you come into contact with it, you could be burned.

3. Disconnect the Water Supply

Now you’re ready to disconnect the water supply with the shut-off valve. You typically will either pull-down or rotate the valve clockwise to do this. If you haven’t identified the source of the leak yet, you can leave the water supply on until you do. And don’t try to turn this off if you’re not able to do it safely.

4. Locate and Diagnose the Leak

At this point, you can attempt to locate and diagnose the leak with some more specificity than you did in the first step.

For example, you could look at the cold water inlet and hot water outlet valve to see if all that’s necessary is some tightening. You could also look at the heater’s drain valve to see if it’s closed and check on the base of the tank to see if it’s damaged.

5. Hire a Professional for Repairs

If you’re unable to find and fix the leak yourself, then it’ll be important to call out a professional technician to repair the problem for you. The longer you wait to fix the problem, the more damage that may occur.

Colorado Discount Heating and Cooling can help you resolve a leaking water heater if you’re having trouble. Our skilled team of technicians is capable of tackling any problem, no matter how big or small. We’re located in Englewood, Colorado, and serve the entire Denver Metro Area.