Common Reasons Why Your Hot Water Heater Is Leaking
Water in your water heater pan can be the first sign of a leak
A water heater pan, also known as a water heater drain pan, is a pan that sits underneath your water heater to collect water in the event of a small leak. Ideally, they should be dry—but if you’re finding water in your water heater pan, that means your heater is leaking.
Leaks can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes the problem is serious, and other times, they are totally fixable. If you’re feeling confident, you can check for leaks at the water pipe fittings and tighten the pipe connections if you need to. It may be a simple issue with your valves, or it will warrant a call to your local water heater technician.
To diagnose the problem on your own, arm yourself with a flashlight and a paper towel and search for wet spots by wiping the towel along pipe fittings and your water heater tank. There are a few things to look out for.
1. Leaking Drain Valve
A hot water heater’s drain valve is threaded into the bottom side of the tank and flushes out any sediment that collects inside.
If you find water in your water heater pan, a leaky drain valve is likely the culprit. Check the valve’s outlet with a paper towel to see if this is where your water is coming from.
Try tightening the valve by hand if the leak is coming from the drain valve nozzle, as the valve might not be completely closed. If the valve still drips water after tightening, you’ll need to replace it.
2. Damaged Internal Tank
If the leak isn’t coming from your drain valve, look at the tank itself next. A leaky internal tank causes water to slowly seep out and pool at the bottom of the tank and water heater pan.
The tank incurs damage when sediment builds up inside, causing it to crack. Draining your hot water heater on a regular basis to flush out sediment prevents this issue.
In this scenario, the best course of action is to contact a local professional plumber to determine whether or not you’ll need to purchase a whole new tank.
3. Faulty Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve
The temperature-pressure relief valve automatically opens to discharge hot water in case the tank reaches an extremely hot temperature or high pressure. Typically, this is a brass valve mounted near the top of a hot water tank with a pipe coming down to about 6 inches off the ground.
Wipe a paper towel on the bottom of the downtube. If it’s wet, this is the source of your leak. In most cases, you’ll need to completely replace this valve.
4. Corrosion
If you’re finding water in your water heater pan, a leak due to deep internal corrosion is the worst-case scenario. This may only be a small leak at first, but iit will gradually get worse and, occasionally, it causes a blowout that leaves your utility room a sopping mess.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many early warning signs for this problem because tanks rust from the inside out. That said, some possible signs to look out for are corrosion around the base of the tank or a rusty wet stain on the ground underneath. You’ll need to completely replace your water heater tank if it’s internally corroded.
5. Condensate Dripping Down Flue
Condensate from combustion water vapor can run down your water heater duct into the flue through the center of a gas-fired heater and drip down into the center of the firing chamber.
Eventually, the bottom of the fire chamber can rust through and allow water to drip into the water heater pan.
Watch for drips from the duct and listen for a sizzle as it drips into the firebox. If this has been happening continuously for a long period of time, you will see large piles of rust around the firebox.
Call a professional plumber to diagnose the problem and determine your next steps.
6. Leaking Pipes Above Water Heater
If you can’t find a leak coming from any of the parts on your water heater, it could be a leaky pipe or valve located above the water heater. A lime buildup commonly causes these leaks that start as dampness and escalate to trickles over a few weeks.
You can check by wiping around the top of the tank with paper towels and looking out for any wetness, or hire a plumber to investigate.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Your home's water heater needs to be routinely monitored and maintained. Like all major home appliances and systems, water heaters perform better when they're being properly cared for on a routine basis. Proper maintenance can also prevent costly problems and flood risks down the road catching little issues before they escalate. Here's a checklist of seven essential tips for water heater maintenance.
1. Schedule Routine Inspections
How often should your water heater be inspected? As a homeowner, you want to do a general inspection once every two to three months. Any signs of leaking or excess moisture should be addressed promptly. You should also consider an annual inspection from a professional. You can book your furnace inspection and water heater inspection at the same time to make things easy!
2. Get Your Water Heater Flushed Annually
Many homeowners are unaware that it's necessary to flush a hot water heater once a year. Flushing helps to clean sediment buildup from the interior of the tank. Buildup can cause your water heater to be less efficient. Steps to flushing include:
Turning off water and power to the water heater.
Attaching a hose to the water heater.
Using the hose to drain the remaining water from the tank.
Cleaning the inside of the tank.
Refilling the tank.
Turning the water and power back on.
Always be sure to allow water that is sitting in your hot water tank to cool before you handle it. A water heater repair pro or HVAC expert can certainly take care of annual flushing for you. Bundling your annual inspection with a flushing is a great way to ensure that your water heater is running as efficiently as possible.
3. Replace Your Anode Rod Regularly
The anode rod on your water heater should be replaced roughly every five years. An anode rod is a corrosive accessory that attracts sedative and corrosive elements to prevent them from gathering inside the tank. However, corrosive materials can begin to get inside the tank once the rod is worn out.
4. Replace the Air Intake Filter
If you have a tankless water heater, it has an intake filter that keeps debris out. This filter needs to be replaced about once a year. However, you may need to switch out your filter more frequently if your home uses more hot water than average. Always defer to your product manual to ensure that you're changing your filter frequently enough to keep it functioning effectively.
5. Test the Pressure Valve
Your water heater's temperature-pressure relief (TPR) valve releases excess pressure that builds up within the water heater. This feature should be tested as part of your water heater's routine annual inspection. A functioning valve will start and stop water flow when its lever is activated accordingly. If the TPR valve lever doesn't release water when activated, this is a sign that the valve needs to be replaced. Significant leakage can also indicate a broken valve.
6. Consider Insulating Your Hot Water Tank
This tip is becoming more popular due to the fact that people are looking for easy ways to reduce their energy bills. Insulating your hot water tank can help to increase its efficiency by preventing heat from escaping. As a result, your water heater won't have to work as hard to get water to the right temperature. This can also increase the water heater's lifespan by reducing strain.
7. Adjust the Temperature on Your Water Heater
This last tip can help you spend less for hot water while also making life safer in a home with young children! Water heaters generally perform best when set to 120 degrees or lower. However, many homes have water heaters set to temperatures between 130 and 140 degrees. In addition to reducing efficiency, these high temperatures could result in scalding and burning. Consider adjusting your water heater's temperature if it's currently on the higher side of average.
DIY Fixing a Water Heater vs. Hiring a Pro
For many homeowners, the water heater can be intimidating because it combines the complexities of your home's plumbing and heating systems. That means that there's "double" the potential for things to go wrong when attempting a DIY solution. If you're confident that you've diagnosed the source of the issue, you may feel comfortable attempting to fix the problem on your own. For example, many homeowners feel comfortable with replacing a faulty temperature-pressure relief valve. Meanwhile, you shouldn't hesitate to contact local water heater repair experts for help with leaking or damaged hot water heaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is generally recommended that you turn off the unit as soon as you notice any sort of leaking. In addition to shutting off power from the unit, you should also shut off the water supply. Your water heater tank should have a dedicated shutoff valve located on the cold inlet pipes. If the valve is broken or inoperable, you will need to use the shutoff valve to your home's main water supply to stop the flow to the entire house. Avoid touching any valves or pipes directly without confirming if they are hot. Wear gloves and other safety gear to prevent your skin from coming into contact with hot levers or components when turning off your leaking water heater.
The average hot water heater will last 10 to 15 years. Leaky water heaters should be repaired or replaced promptly. A leak that seems small at first can quickly create ankle-deep water in your home. In rare cases, malfunctioning water heaters can explode due to built-up water pressure that isn't being properly released.
Yes, if a water heater leak is left untreated, your water heater could potentially lose all hot water. If this happens, you are likely facing even more serious issues as well, like flooding, fire risk, or a permanently damaged water heater. If you detect a leak in your water heater, you should call a professional to fix it ASAP.