If you have found a water heater leak, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. If the leak is in the tank itself however, you will most likely need to replace the whole water heater. If this is not the problem, do an assessment of where the leak is coming from. Gather some tools, and dive in. You will need a screwdriver, a piece of hose long enough to reach outside or to a drain, a bucket, a wrench and some sealant. Once all the tools are assembled and located nearby you can check your water heater. If the water is leaking out of the fittings or the pipe valves, chances are you will be able to fix it yourself. Before you begin you will need to do some preparations to fix the leak. The first step is to shut off your power.
If you have a gas water heater, then shut off the gas. This is a safety measure that needs to be followed. Before you begin any repair, do this first step! Shut off the water. You can easily do this by shutting off the in-line valves that are close to your heater. Next, employ the sillcock valve that is located at the bottom of your water heater. Attach the hose and allow everything to drain either outside or down a drain. You do this to relieve any pressure that has built up inside the tank, and you will need to allow some time to pass before you proceed.
Once the pressure has been relieved, disconnect your water intake and output by unscrewing the unions on the heater. Use your bucket to catch any water that may be left. Once you have done all this, use the wrench to tighten the fittings and valves. You may want to remove these items first and apply the sealant to the threads before tightening them back up. This should have fixed any of the leaks you had, and once everything is tightened up, you can then turn the water, power and heater back on. If your water heater still has a leak, there may be another possibility that can be causing it. Check the temperature release valve for any leaks. If this is where the leak is, call an experienced plumber to fix the problem. Doing this type of repair yourself if you do not know what you’re doing can easily cause an explosion. Another option would be to tighten the drain valve.
Check the drain valve and see if this is where the leak is coming from. Lastly, check the heating element gasket. If you need to replace this, you will have to turn the water supply off and drain any water that is in your water heater. The gasket can easily be replaced. Before you turn the water heater back on, you will need to run hot water through a kitchen sink to remove any air that may build up inside the heater tank
Max Schiling is a local San Francisco plumber whose company has been in business for over 30 years. If you need any advice, call if you have a water heater leak or visit http://www.magicplumbing.com/ for all your expert plumbing advice.
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