If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you.
Water heater leaking cold water from bottom.
Whenever your water heater kicks on and off it s possible for the vibrations to gradually loosen the drain.
Luckily we re here to help.
Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are.
A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan.
After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely.
The best part it actually isn t that hard to do.
Water leaking from the bottom.
A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue.
Loose drain valve the drain valve is located at the bottom of the water heater tank.
Checking the anode rod testing the t p valve inspecting for leaks and flushing your tank to remove sediment build up are all tasks that help your water heater reach it s full service life potential.
The first thing you ll want to do is determine where the water heater leak is located.
Water leaking from your water heater is a bad sign regardless of where the leak is coming from.
When you see water that appears to be leaking from the bottom of a gas water heater it could be because of condensation try turning up the thermostat a leaking or loose drain valve or the t p valve draining some water through the overflow pipe due to tank overpressurization.
Once the water runs clear close the drain valve and fill the tank with cold water.
Water heater maintenance can play a big role in getting the most from your water heater.
It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking.
The most likely scenario in this case is that sediment has built up and corroded the bottom of the tank causing a serious problem and the need for an entirely new water heater.
For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or.
Is the leak on the top of the water heater if so continue on to the section below labeled my water heater is leaking from the top.
Replace the water heater if the leak is at the bottom of the tank.
Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out.
Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage.
Once the tank is full turn back on the water heater.
First turn off the water heater.
This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve.
Before you resign yourself to replacing the entire water heater take a few minutes to determine where the leak is actually coming from and you may be able to fix the leak yourself with little or no cost.