Leak From the Tank Usually Means Replacement is Necessary
If you are having hot water problems in your home, we’re willing to bet the first thing you do is check to see if your water heater is working. You head on over to it’s location and notice a pool of water at the base. Now what?
Well, it certainly explains your temperature problems, but now you have a water heater leak to deal with. Unfortunately, there are a number of ways a water heater can leak. It’s important for you, as a homeowner, to understand the differences because in some cases water heater leaks call for a bit more than a repair.
Water Heater Leak Causes
- Temperature and pressure valve: The whole purpose of the temperature and pressure valve is to release water if there is too much pressure in the tank or if the water gets too hot. The water that it releases goes down a tube purposely directed at the floor. But, if you see water pooling at the bottom of your water heater, check the inside of the discharge tube for any moisture. If there is some, you know it’s because the valve is faulty or because there is too much pressure in the tank.
- Leak from the tank: This is the most common cause of water heater leaks and, sadly, it does typically result in needing a replacement. When water leaks from the tank, it means that there is something wrong internally. Most often, it’s because sediment has built up to the point of rusting and cracking the tank.
- Drain valve: The drain valve, located at the bottom of the tank, is used to remove any built up sediment. If it’s faulty or if it’s not tight enough, it will begin to leak water. This is actually a very fixable problem, only having to replace the single drain valve to get the water heater back to working like normal.
Stewart Plumbing will do a thorough check of your unit to determine the cause and go over with you the best course of action for repair. Whether it’s a repair or a replacement, our team promises to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Call us today!
