Did you discover a giant pool of water by your water heater? Does your shower run out of hot water quickly and abruptly? Has your water bill increased recently for no reason you can think of? There's a chance you might be dealing with a leaking water heater. Your water heater is an important facet of your home’s plumbing system. Acting as your hot water supply, it provides warm water for calming baths or hot water to help wash your dishes.
Over time, wear and tear can cause them to degrade, reducing the water pressure in your home and eventually causing a leaking water heater. This can lead to some majorly disappointing showers and, even worse, severe water damage should the leaking water heater not be detected in time. Luckily, your local Dallas plumber has some useful tips and tricks to help you identify, prevent, and reduce the possible damage to a leaking water heater.
From gas and electric water heaters to classic tank water heaters, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas has you covered with quality water heater repair. Avoid potential catastrophes and costly repairs with quality repair and replacement services designed to provide you with peace of mind. Continue reading for some potential causes and some useful tips and tricks for preventing further damage to your property from a leaking water heater.
How Does a Standard Tank Water Heater Develop a Leak?
The classic water heater system has a tank that holds your water while it is continually heated by a heating element. Cold water enters the tank, and then it is stored in the tank and warmed up. This means these systems are constantly on, which subjects them to a lot of wear and tear. This is why their lifespans are only 10 to 15 years compared to the over 20+ years provided by a modern tankless system. So, what causes a leaking water heater? Here are some common causes of why your hot water tank may develop leaks:
- Faulty Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve (T&P Valve): This critical safety mechanism releases excess pressure but can leak if improperly installed or if the pressure in your system is too high.
- Drain valve: Loosens during heating and cooling cycles, wear and tear can cause leaks.
- Tank corrosion and age: Hot water tanks over 10 years old are more susceptible to leaks due to wear and tear. Sediment buildup also causes corrosion. The constant heating and cooling cycle can stress the material over time, creating cracks.
- Loose pipe connections: Inlet and outlet water supply line connections can become loose over time, causing leaks.
Your water heater tank is often the biggest point of failure for older water heater systems and is often the source of the leak. Should you be experiencing poor water pressure or you are hearing strange sounds coming from your unit, check out the area around your water heater and inspect these elements. Catching a leaking water heater early is imperative so you do not experience potentially worse damage.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Start to Leak?
Nowadays, the majority of water heater systems are tankless. Forgoing the tank, these systems use an on-demand approach for hot water. Your water supply lines take cold water and pass it through a heating element on the way to your faucet or shower head. That way, these systems only provide heat when needed. This saves you on electricity bills and also allows these systems to last a lot longer. A tankless water heater system can function properly for over 20 years if it's properly maintained. If you have a tankless water heater leaking, it could be because of one of these common issues:
- Hard water mineral buildup
- High water pressure
- Incorrect installation
- Loose connections
- Corrosion of internal components
- Faulty pressure relief valve
- Poor ventilation
- Damaged heat exchanger
- Acidic water damage to internal components
You can count on our team to thoroughly inspect your water heater for any issues. Whether you have an electric or gas water heater, there are many components that can fail. Should you be experiencing your tankless water heating leaking, it could be time to call a professional to properly repair your damaged water heater components.
What Are the Signs of a Leaking Water Heater?
Sometimes there are internal cracks in your water heater; other times, the fact you have a leaking water heater is more obvious, like when there is visible bulging or water leaking from the bottom of the tank. Oftentimes these leaks go unnoticed until they reach the extreme stage of pooling water at the bottom of the leaking water heater. While inspecting your water heater annually is your best option to identify potential future leaks. Here are some signs of standard and tankless water heater leaking to look for on your own in the meantime:
- Pooling Water: Check for puddles around the base of your water heater. This is the most obvious sign of a leak and could indicate the inner tank could be damaged or that the supply lines are loose.
- Dripping sounds: Listen for the sounds of dripping water. If you hear a drip, there is a strong chance your water heater may have a leak.
- Corrosion or rust: Check your water heater and the connection fittings for signs of rust and corrosion. These can lead to a crack in your hot water heater.
- Unusual noises: Hissing, popping, and banging can indicate incorrect or excessive pressure within the system. This can lead to potential damage and your water heater leaking.
- Temperature and pressure relief valve: Check the T&P valve located at the top of your water heater. Put your finger under the valve. If it's wet, you may have found the source of your water heater's leak.
- Inconsistent water temperature or pressure: Do you notice your hot shower is cut short by a cold water surprise? Does the water pressure fluctuate? This could signify a leak in your water heater.
- Monitoring your utility bills: Should your water bill suddenly get higher with no clear sign, it could indicate that there is a leak in your hot water heating system.
What Should I Do if I Have a Leaking Water Heater?
Should you find yourself with a puddle of water and a tankless water heater leaking water, don't panic; here are some helpful steps to take to avoid potential water damage before scheduling a water heater repair or water heater replacement with a professional. If you have water around your water heater or have just found out your water heater is leaking, you need to:
- Find the source of the water leaking from your system.
- Shut off power: For electric water heaters, turn off the breaker in your circuit box. For gas water heaters, turn the gas control valve to the "off" position.
- Stop the water supply: Locate the cold water shutoff valve near the top of your water heater. Turn it clockwise to turn off the water. If you cannot access it, turn off the main water supply to your home.
- Call a professional: Outside of simple fixes like tightening a connection point, you will need to hire help in the form of water heater repair or replacement services from a water heater professional.
How Do I Prevent My Water Heater From Leaking?
Water heaters are expensive and an important aspect of your overall water quality. Scheduling your water heater for maintenance regularly is the best way to spot a tankless water heater leaking and to prolong the life of your water heater. Your water heater works around the clock to provide hot showers and baths. Some things you can do for your water heater to prevent leaks:
- Flush your water heater tank
- Check cold water inlet pipes and outlet pipes
- Check water heater surface for signs of damage
- Check connections for signs of corrosion or looseness
- Insulating pipes
- Inspecting the water heater regularly
- Using a drain pan
- Installing a leak detector
- Install a pressure regulator
- Use a water softener to reduce the corrosive minerals in the water
Leaking Water Heater? Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas for Prompt Repair and Exceptional Service
Hot water heater leaking water? Cold water supply showing up a little too quickly during your shower? Have you already tried to drain your water heater, but it is still leaking? You may have done your best to maintain your water heater, but oftentimes leaks in water heaters are due to age. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas is your go-to expert if you need to fix a leaking water heater, if you need a new water heater, or to create a plan to keep your water heater running at its best.
Keep the water inside your water heater and off the floor with professional leaking water heater repair from Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas. Whether you’re in Dallas or the nearby areas of Farmers Branch or North Dallas, contact us today!
