Thursday, August 1, 2013

Stop Your Hot Water Heater From Leaking

Stop Your Hot Water Heater From Leaking

By Brian Winters


Everyone should accept the fact that a water heater cannot last forever. Once it starts to act up and malfunction, your unit may be sitting on borrowed time. Avoid inconvenience by inspecting the heater every six months to detect signs of damage in the early stage. If you think your water heater is producing less water than it used to, consider looking for a replacement unit to solve the problem.

Keep in mind that not all hot water leaks are repairable. Major leaking problems would require a replacement if a tweak or two does not do the trick. Ask help from a specialist to know if your unit needs a repair or a timely replacement. Problems can escalate if you attempt to repair your unit without professional help. This can result to a more costly repair way beyond your budget.

Avoid accidents by shutting down the heating source of your unit beforehand. Turn off the circuit breaker or the gas supply valve since water heaters can convert into dangerous devices if not properly handled. Close the water supply valve as well to prevent water from entering the tank. Wipe water puddles near the base of the tank to prevent unnecessary disasters.

First area to check is your plumbing connections. Make sure all the pipe fittings are connected tightly. If not, repair this by tightening them with a wrench. This is important since water leaks can affect other areas of the tank, resulting in rust stains all over. If you think the pipes are beyond any repairs, replace them immediately. Wrap a Teflon tape around the threading to completely stop water from leaking.

Locate the pressure relief valve around the side of the tank. This relief valve protects your tank from overheating and blowing up as it releases excessive pressure inside. The relief valve should be working at all times to avoid disasters. Have it replaced as soon as it starts to leak.

You can test it by lifting the handle to allow water to flow out. Once you release the handle, water would eventually stop draining. If it starts to leak, contact a specialist for proper valve installation. Having a faulty T&P valve can be dangerous to you and your family. You can prevent the pressure buildup by lowering the temperature in the thermostat settings.

Drain and flush your water heater for a thorough inspection. Connect a hose to the sillcock valve near the bottom of the tank. Open the valve and wait until the tank is empty. To remove the hard water minerals inside the tank, flush them out by turning on the cold water supply until the water runs clear.

If the leaks are not coming from these areas, it is safe to assume that your bottom tank is leaking. When this happens, you have no choice but to replace the water heater. Rust may have eaten its way into your internal tank, causing holes to appear. Do not wait until your basement floods and call a specialist for professional help.




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