Hot Water Heater Leaking?

While a water heater leak may just seem like a small nuisance that can be fixed later on, it can actually turn into a bigger problem than you think as even the smallest amount of water can cause greatest damage to your floors and walls. It is important to remember that large water leaks from water heaters can be the sign of a much bigger problem that can lead to heater failure and significant repairs and replacement bills for both the heater and your damaged property.

A leaking water heater can be cause of concern not only for your wallet and property, but also your health. An area that is continuously wet or even damp provides great breeding grounds for mould and mildew, both of which can cause allergic reactions and asthma in some people. A leaking water heater is not a problem you can leave until the weekend when you have more time, it only gets worse and you are best off fixing the problem as soon as possible.

1. Identify The Leak

Before you phone a plumber, the very first thing you should do is actually check where the leak is coming from. If you can see that the leak is coming from either the top or bottom of your water heater and you have an electric or solar hot water system, you need to turn off the power to your heater on the power board immediately. This is vital as the connection of water and electricity is very dangerous and create an electric hazard.

2. Turn Off The Water

After you have identified the leak, you should now turn off the heaters water supply by shutting off the inlet pipe to the heater. This will be a small back tap or lever valve that is located at the bottom of the heater, if you can’t find this tap then you should turn the water off at the mains water meter (before you do this remember to have drinking water on hand).

3. Call A Professional Plumber

Once you have done the previous steps, your best option is to call a professional plumber. You need a gas fitter that can look at your water heater, and will determine the best course of action which would probably be to install a new water heater. After all this is done and you have a new hot water heater up and running we will also take away your old heater so you don’t have to worry about disposing it yourself.

Tags: leaking hot water system