Water Heater Leaking? Follow These 4 Steps

If you’ve noticed water around the bottom of your water heater, or you’ve heard dripping noises coming from the water heater, you likely have a leak.

Although it may seem relatively minor, a leaking water heater can lead to bigger, more costly issues like water damage in your home. Luckily, there are steps you can take to minimize a leaky water heater’s disruption to your home and budget.

Here’s the basic process of identifying and addressing a water heater leak:

Find the Source of the Leak

If there’s water under or near your water heater, you should first confirm it’s from a leak and not condensation. Wipe up any water from the area and watch to see if more appears. If it does, you should be able to observe where it’s leaking from.

Typically, water heater leaks are caused by damaged valves or plumbing connections, but in rare cases, the tank itself could be leaking.

If you’re unable to determine the source of the leak but water continues to appear below your water heater, call JD Service Now at 919-383-7000.

Cut the Power to Your Water Heater

After confirming the source of the leak, you need to cut power from the water heater to ensure your safety. If you have an electric water heater, go to your home’s electrical panel and flip the breaker for the water heater.

If you have a gas water heater, look for the thermostat. From there, you should be able to turn it off.

Shut Off the Water

Next, you want to shut off the water supply line to your water heater so you can prepare to drain the tank. Your water heater should have a shut-off valve somewhere above the storage tank that you can use rather than turning off your home’s main supply line.

Just remember that the water heater’s tank, pipes, and water can be very hot if touched.

Drain the Water Heater Tank

Once you’re confident the water heater’s supply line is off, you can safely drain the tank. You’ll want to attach a sturdy hose to the tank’s drain valve found around the bottom of the tank.

Again, it’s important to take care in securely attaching the hose and ensuring it’s set up to drain safely using a floor drain, as the water will be very hot.

At this point, once the water heater is completely drained, you should be able to address the leak, whether that’s replacing a pipe fitting or installing a new valve. For anything more extensive, we recommend relying on the professionals at JD Service Now.

Choose JD Service Now for Plumbing Services in Durham, NC

JD Service now offers comprehensive water heater services, including water heater repair, replacement, and maintenance. We can address and repair your leak quickly and effectively.

When you choose our team for your plumbing needs, you can expect:

• Licensed and insured plumbers
• Free estimates on replacements
• Upfront pricing you can trust

Schedule reliable water heater repairs with JD Service Now at 919-383-7000.