Discovering a leak in your hot water heater can be a stressful situation. If water is pooling at your feet or leaking from the surfaces of the tank, it can be difficult to think straight. Don’t worry, we are here to help
Before you call the plumber to find the source of the leak and fix the issue, there are a few straightforward things you can do to avoid any further damage from happening.
What to do if your Water Heater Tank is Leaking:
- First, switch off the power source to the hot water heater. This is either located on the warm water heater itself for a gas water heater (turn the switch to”OFF” or”Pilot”) or on the breaker box for an electric water heater.
- Once the tank is powered off, switch off the water to avoid any additional damage. This can be done by locating the source of the water, usually via a valve on the cold water line leading to the tank.
- Finally, after those steps are completed, prepare to drain the water tank itself. This can be an intricate process, so make sure you follow instructions carefully.
- Attach a garden hose to the drain valve (located near the bottom of the tank) and operate the hose to the nearest sump pump pit or floor drain.
- Open the drain valve to allow the water to flow out of the tank.
- If the water doesn’t flow freely, you may have to break the vacuum within the hot water heater. To do this, simply turn on any hot water into your home.
- As soon as your tank is empty, keep the machine powered off and contact a professional to get things back up and running again.