Friday, August 23, 2013

How To Deal With A Leaking Water Heater

How To Deal With A Leaking Water Heater

By Brian Winters


Walking into a flooded basement is always not a good experience. You might just be surprised how your water heater has been damaged due to constant water leaks. When this happens, there is a chance that the damage is beyond any repairs. It is but proper to buy a replacement unit to continue having warm water running in your hot water pipes.

Before carrying out repairs, always make sure to shut down the circuit breaker or close the gas supply valve. Doing this protects you from unfortunate mishaps during the repair process. Do not take this lightly since a water heater can be a dangerous appliance if not handled properly. After all, water and electricity are never a good mix. Wipe water puddles as soon as you notice them and check your gas connections for signs of leaks.

Check the plumbing connections and tighten them to stop water from leaking. Tighten the pipes with a wrench and replace badly damaged pipes when necessary. Experts recommend wrapping a Teflon tape around the threading if water continues to leak right after tightening or replacing the pipes.

Experts recommend using push fittings instead of the soldered ones, since push fittings are easier to install and remove and are less prone to water heater leaks. Repairing soldered fittings can be quite a challenge if you don't know of a person who is capable of re-soldering pipes.

Water can easily leak if the screws around your heating element are not tightened properly. If the element continues to leak after tightening the bolts and screws, have it replaced immediately. Release the air inside the tank by opening a hot water tap after the element has been replaced. Refill the tank and turn on the switch to hear a sound if the heating is already in progress.

Having a faulty T&P valve can cause your tank to leak, overheat or worst, blow up. Prevent this from happening by checking the relief valve from time to time. This valve is responsible for releasing excessive pressure inside so it is important to keep it working at all times. You can test it by lifting and releasing the lever to observe the water flow. If water continues to drip after the handle snaps back on its own, then have it replaced immediately.

If the leaks are coming from the internal tank, then you are left with no choice but to replace your heating system. This happens when the sediments are left inside the tank for a long time, giving them a chance to eat the tank lining until it leaks. Patching holes won't be an effective solution since this will only lead to poor heating efficiency.

When unsure, you can always ask the help of a specialist to handle all your water heater leaking issues. It is important to take immediate action to avoid spending too much on costly repairs. Water heater leaks can be prevented if you perform regular maintenance. It might take a lot of your time, but is definitely worth it since it leads to great energy savings at the same time.




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