Friday, July 19, 2013

Hot Water Heater Leaking Repair Tips

Hot Water Heater Leaking Repair Tips

By Brian Winters


A leaking water heater can cause a great inconvenience, especially since it is responsible for producing warm water for your household. However, letting a unit leak for a long time can damage the interiors of your house, leading to stained walls and floors, electric shocks and mold and mildew development. You can avoid these mishaps by addressing water heater issues while there is time. Failure to do so would result to an untimely water heater replacement.

Check your water heater every 4-6 months to prevent leaks from affecting other areas of your tank. All pipe fittings and connections should be tightened at all times. For badly damaged pipes, you may have to replace them immediately. Once you notice contaminated water coming out of your taps, check the base of your unit for rust and holes. At this point, you are left with no choice but to buy a new water heater.

Check the valve and make sure it controls the water flow properly. The relief valve is a safety feature installed with your unit to release excessive pressure inside the tank. This should be working at all times to prevent your water heater from overheating or exploding. However, do not forget to shut down the heating source of your heater prior to inspect it. Always make sure the water supply valve is shut down to stop water from entering the tank during the process. Test the T&P valve by lifting the lever while allowing water to flow out. If it doesn't, you might have to replace it as soon as possible.

It helps draining and flushing the water heater on a semi-annual basis to stop rust and corrosion from building up. Sediments lying at the bottom of the tank can eat the internal components, leading to water heater holes in the long run. Be careful of scalding water whenever it's time to drain the water heater. It's better to turn off the unit the night before draining it to protect your skin from scalding.

You can start by connecting a hose to the drain valve and placing the other end to a floor drain or gutter. Drain the tank empty and flush the remaining sediments by removing the hose and using a bucket to catch the sediments inside. Open the cold water valve and wait until the water runs clear. Do not turn on the water heater until it is fully refilled.

If you want to avoid rust and corrosion, check the state of your anode rod every year. This rod is designed to attract all charged water molecules to prevent your tank from rusting completely. That is why it is normal for an anode rod to deteriorate over a period of time. After draining the tank, life the rod inside and observe if it measures less than of an inch. Once you metal wiring around it, replace it as soon as possible. You can always ask help from a professional for proper anode rod installation.

There are times when a water heater leaks during chilly seasons. This is normal, especially since the unit is only experiencing condensation. It happens when cold water is mixed with warm water inside, causing the tank to leak temporarily. However, this is a simple problem since leaks would eventually stop as soon as the unit starts heating water. This problem may occur more often if you live within an area of a colder climate.

Dealing with water heater leaks should be easy if you ask help from a specialist as soon as possible. It is important to have your unit handled by the best. Fixing water heater leaks on your own will only worsen the situation, resulting to a more costly water heater repair.




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