Leaky water heaters can be extremely dangerous and it takes no time to turn into a water heater explosion. It’s never a good sign if it’s leaking. No matter where the leak is coming from, what caused it. Just like any other malfunctioned appliance, a leaky water heater is a threat, too.
As said above, a leak can turn into a heater explosion in no time, if not fixed on time. Soaking up your floorboards, water everywhere causing problems with the electricity wires. So, what causes water heater leaks? There are several reasons which are discussed below –
The tank is too old
Tank-style water heaters that are older than almost 15 years leak more often than newer heaters. When the tank units start to get older, the conditions of the parts slowly deteriorate. Which causes problems in heating water as well as keeping it warm. And, the main con, it will lead to leaking in the heater. Another reason why old tanks leak so frequently is because of the rust. That leads to weathering in the tank and causes the water to leak through the rustic cracks of the tank. The solution to this is to replace the tank since it is too old to be fixed.
Drain valve
When it comes to the maintenance and replacements of the water heaters the owners and the plumber usually choose the drain valve to clean up the remaining water in the tank. They even use it to clean the tank. The problem is that the valve gets loose over time, which leads to water leaking. But, keep an eye open to check if the water is leaking from the valve base. If yes, that means the components of the valve are not appropriate for the water to stop leaking. In this case, owners themselves change the valves. But, owners must get advice from the plumbers before taking any drastic action.
Pressure
Like any plumbing system, water heaters alter present water pressure. Pressure occurs in water heaters when the recent water creates steam and fills the empty area. Once this steam has obscurity to travel, the pressure becomes excessive which leads to the water leaking through any crack within the heater to alleviate the amount of the pressure. If the temperature of the water in the tank is too high, or if water enters the system at a really high pressure, the heater pressure will increase.
Faults in temperature and pressure relief valve
Water heater leaks conjointly occur as the result of the temperature and pressure safety valve, called the T&P valve. This valve helps relieve pressure within the tank. If this valve doesn’t work, the pressure within the tank will increase. Sometimes, the valve is just loose and needs alteration. However, if the parts of the valve are faulty, the piece wants a replacement. Lower the pressure within the tank before you agitate T&P valve problems.
Sediment collection
As water heaters age, they collect sediment at the rock bottom of the tank. Owners who regularly clean tanks rarely experience this problem. However, for those who don’t drain the tank to clean it, sediment builds until the cracks start forming. These cracks permit the water to leak through. Tank leaks require you to buy a new water heater which is high in price, so it is advisable to owners to clean the tank regularly.
Cracked storage tank
Some water heaters have an additional tank to expand the amount of water they store in them. These tanks typically use glass to line the tank. Over time, minerals collect and calcify on the glass that causes the glass to crack and leak water. In addition, if the water in the tank gets too hot in temperature, it will expand, that puts pressure on the glass and the glass cracks. Replacements are the only option to fix this issue in both cases.
SOLUTIONS FOR WATER HEATER LEAKING
The most vital part of leak identification deals with reaction. The quicker householders determine a leak, the less likely they’re to experience extreme water leakings.But, if you take preventative measures, It is rare to have a leak in your tank. Here are the ways to keep your home safe from leaks –
- Firstly, make sure to check how tight all of the parts are on the water heater. The looser the parts, the more chances of water to leak through, so tighten them as often as necessary. All you need is a wrench to do it.
- Regular maintenance done by a plumber ensures the water heater doesn’t have any leaks which will cause water flooding. Plumbers do the maintenance checks on the entire plumbing system, which means they cover the water heater too. They make sure there are no leaks, and take a close look at all the parts to see if they have any chances to cause leaks shortly.
- Quick responses to any hot-water tank leaks guarantee owners don’t face harsh repercussions. If leaks endure long periods of your time, floods are more likely to occur. Plus, if the pressure in the tanks keep getting increasing, it will explode.Quickly attend to leaks to confirm these eventualities don’t happen.
- Lastly, together with maintenance checks, owners should examine their water heaters too. See if any elements are loose, check for cracks, and wear down any sediment assortment you discover. Owners ought to keep an eye fixed on the hot-water tank to understand once malfunctions or failures occur.
All of these you can always manage to do by yourself. But, it is always advised to take the help of professionals. So, if you’re looking for the best water heater repair professional, here is the list of best water heater leak repair services near you.
CONCLUSION
When a home’s water heater leaks, the repercussions are usually quite serious. If the leak lets out water for a protracted amount of your time, it’ll ruin floors, walls, and precious possessions. Householders need to repair leaks quickly, however don’t invariably apprehend wherever they are available from or why they happen. However, this information saves householders cash and time.
Author Bio : – Karl Brown
Karl, a marketing manager at EZ Leak Detection, loves to write about plumbing and HVAC services to make the life of the reader easier. Leakages in your property can be dangerous but not all the leaks are easily accessible. He has given extensive information about water leak and slab leak and tips to detect them quickly along with quick solutions to prevent you from inconveniences and health hazards.
Leakage problems and malfunction of appliances demand comprehensive solutions. Also, regular maintenance is not the thing to be missed for leading life with zero hassles. Read our recent post related to leakage detection and repair, alerts for HVAC shutdown and how to repair it, and installation of AC and water heater in San Diego.
Peter Beaumont is a senior reporter on the Guardian’s Global Development desk. He has reported extensively from conflict zones including Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East and is the author of The Secret Life of War: Journeys Through Modern Conflict. Email: peter@thehearus.com
