Checking for Water Heater Leaks

The water heater is an essential component of your home. It’s also a piece of equipment that you probably don’t think about much — until something goes wrong! While there could be a number of issues going on with your water heater, we want to focus in on potential leaks that could be occurring.

Just keep this in mind; if you notice a leak around your water heater, it needs to be fixed immediately. These leaks will not go away by themselves. In fact, the leak is bound to get worse over time! With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the DIY steps that you can take to check for water heater leaks.

Step 1: Carefully inspect the water heater for the source of the leak. This is the obvious first step in this process. Be sure to check the pressure relief valve and any nearby plumbing connections.

Step 2: If you found the source of the leak, turn off the power to the water heater. This is always a good idea to ensure the proper safety conditions while you fix the leak.

Step 3: Turn off the water supply. Before you make any repairs, the water must be off. If you do not turn off the water, you will end up with a very wet mess on your hands!

Step 4: Repair any lose connections. Assuming that your issue is due to a loose plumbing connection, tighten the connections as necessary. It may be as simple as tightening the cold water or hot water connections. In some cases, you may need replacement parts, especially in older units that are beginning to deteriorate. You will also need the proper tools, such as a plumbing wrenches and clamps.

There may be some scenarios where tightening up loose connections is your solution; however, in many water heater leaking situations, you will need to bring out a plumbing expert. If you are having an issue with your pressure relief valve, drain valve or the internal tank itself, a plumbing expert will certainly be needed to ensure that all repairs are performed properly.

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