Monday, August 26, 2013

Water Heater Leaking - Here's What To Do

By Lori Wakefield


Water heater leaks may develop over time without performing regular maintenance. When this happens, you might be surprised how much the internal components have corroded, causing water to discolor and smell bad. Some water heater leaks can be fixed easily while serious leaking issues are beyond any repairs. At times like this, consult a specialist to detect the cause of the leaks immediately. Doing this helps prevent problems from escalating.

Do not let a simple water heater repair turn disastrous. Protect yourself from harm and danger by making sure you have a safe environment to work with. Shut down your heating source before inspecting your tank to avoid fatal accidents. You can inform other members of your household not to turn your circuit breaker on during the repair process. Do not let water enter your tank by closing the cold water supply valve. Safety should always be a priority, especially in working with water heaters.

Loose pipe fittings can result to water heater leaks. Solve the problem by using a wrench to tighten the fittings. However, this is not applicable if your unit comes with soldered pipe connections. You can re-solder the piping or replace them to stop water from leaking. Since soldering is not an easy task, it's better to ask help from a professional.

Another area to check on is the T&P valve. You can find this fitting on the side of your storage tank. Test it by releasing the lever and allow it snap back on its own. Water should not exit from the overflow pipe once the lever is released. If this is not the case, you may need to replace the valve immediately. Do not forget to shut-down and drain your tank before doing so.

You can start draining by connecting a hose to your tank's drain valve. This is usually located at the base of your water heater. Let the hose run to a gutter or drain floor to avoid scalding. You can release the pressure by opening the drain valve and wait until your tank is empty. Inspect the unions connected to your tank's piping and disconnect the piping going in and out of your unit. Use a bucket to catch the residual water inside the fittings.

Badly damaged pipes should be replaced as soon as possible. Wrap a Teflon tape or use a sealant to prevent water from leaking. Always turn the pipes in a clockwise direction but be careful not to over tighten them since this can damage your tank further. Attach the pipes and connect the unions.

To check if your water heater is still leaking, you may need to close the drain valve and open any hot water tap inside your house. Open your cold-water supply valve and observe remaining signs of leaks. If there is none, then you should be happy to know that the repair process was a success.

These are some of the basic areas you can check to know if your water heater needs a replacement or a simple repair. Since water heater tanks are sealed with a glass lining, repairing leaks caused by internal corrosion can be difficult to achieve. Experts recommended replacing the entire unit rather than patching holes around it. Doing this only affects the efficiency of your heater, causing your electric bills to soar. At times like this, ask help from a specialist to select the best replacement water heater for your household.




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