Whether gas or electric, water heaters will last you about 8 to 12 years if you're taking excellent care of them.
Even so, there's always an opportunity your hot-water heater could leak. If it does, the good news is that most small water heater leaks can be patched up pretty quickly.
And the best part?
There are several things you can do before you call a plumber to make it even easier!
WHY IS MY WATER HEATER LEAKING?
The leading causes of water heater leaks include:
Broken drain valves: These will cause water leaks from the rock bottom of the tank. It quickly fixed by replacing the fractured drain valve.
Corrosion: Sediment buildup can cause corrosion, cracking, and holes in the bottom of the tank. When this happens, it's usually time for a water heater replacement.
Unattached water line connections: Normal wear and tear can loosen the inlet or outlet water lines, causing leaks. This obstacle can usually be fixed by tightening or replacing the loose, worn water lines.
Broken temperature/pressure valves: As their name suggests, they monitor and regulate the temperature and pressure inside water heaters. When they break, they will cause water leaks from the edges of a hot-water heater tank.
Of course, various other things can cause hot-water heater leaks—and, sometimes, these leaks are the results of multiple issues. The best thanks to determining what's causing your hot-water heater leak and obtain the simplest solution for fixing it's by contacting knowledgeable, just like the trusted plumbers at Len The Plumber.
WHAT to try to once you DISCOVER A hot-water heater LEAK: 3 STEPS to require
If your hot-water heater is leaking, take these three steps:
Cut the power: This is the first thing you should do when you find a hot water leak. To turn off the energy source leading to:
Gas water heater: Find your thermostat. You should consult a touch knob with three settings: ON, OFF, and PILOT. Switch it to OFF or PILOT to shut off the gas and make the heater safe to figure.
Electric water heater: attend your breaker panel and find the breaker labeled "water heater." Please turn it off to chop the facility to your unit.
Shut off the water: close up the water by finding the cold water line resulting in your hot-water heater. There should be a valve on the line; turn it to the right until it closes. This will cut off the water and allow you to move on to the next step.
Drain the water tank: If you've got a tank (standard) hot-water heater, draining your hot-water heater is essential. It also happens to be the most involved! To remove your water heater tank:
Find the drain valve near rock bottom of your hot-water heater and fasten a hose thereto.
Run the hose to a floor drain or sump pit.
With the hose in place, open the valve (on older water heaters, this may look like an ordinary spigot; on newer systems, there's a drain stem with a slot for a screwdriver).
NOTE: Once you open the drain valve, you'll notice the water either doesn't flow or doesn't flow, alright. It is because there's a vacuum in the water heater.
To break the vacuum, open any predicament faucet in your home. It will let air into the cistern and permit it to empty more quickly. Once you determine an honest flow, the entire tank should drain in about an hour.