Water dripping from a hot water heater is a bad sign. Hot water heaters work in our homes all day without a second thought. Sometimes a leak can go on without even being noticed. As soon as you recognize puddles or dripping water around the tank, it’s time to take action.
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So, why does your water heater leak, and what do you do when it does? At Mr Expert Plumbing we have a lot of experience in this area. We help families in Salt Lake City deal with water heater issues regularly. Here, we’ll shed some light on the situation and help you determine the next course of action following a leak discovery.
¿Por qué mi calentador de agua tiene fugas?
This is likely the first question you’ll ask after noticing a leak. Why is the tank leaking? Did something happen to it? The most common reasons for a leak are:
- Relief Valve Pressure Problems: The relief valve on the water heater is meant to allow hot air to escape when pressure mounts inside. If the water heater is used too often, the relief valve isn’t given a chance to relax and reset. Instead, the excessive heat and pressure damage the valve.
- Age: All appliances in our homes age, and they all have shelf lives. Water heaters have an approximate 10-year lifespan. Once a decade, you should replace the heater. If yours is nearing that 10-year mark (or has surpassed it), it’s simply a matter of age. Parts wear out over time, making the heater less effective.
- Drain Valve Issues: Like the relief valve, the drain valve has taken a beating over the years. Anything trapped in the heater, including sediment, gets caught in the drain valve, ensuring it doesn’t flow into your water system. This valve lets the heater be cleaned, and you may notice some water dripping near this area. A little is normal, but a lot isn’t.
- Inlets and Outlets: Where hot and cold outlets appear on the tank, there are weak spots. The inlets and outlets weaken faster than other heater components. It’s one of the first places to check if the tank begins leaking.
Sometimes there are small signs that the heater is ready to give out. Things like a slight change in the color and quality of water, physical changes to the heater (rust, missing pieces, a crack, etc.), strange noises coming from the heater, and of course, water where it shouldn’t be (outside the heater instead of inside the heater).
If you notice any of these signs, or there seems to be obvious trouble with the above-mentioned issues, your heater’s in trouble.
Primeros pasos para abordar un calentador con fugas
The first step to fixing anything in your home is diagnosing the problem. Where is the leak coming from exactly? And which of the heater components is closest to the leak? This might help you determine where and why it’s leaking.
Antes de actuar en cualquier intento de reparación de bricolaje, asegúrese de apagar el tanque y drenarlo. Haga esto encendiendo el disyuntor en su caja de disyuntores asociada con el calentador. Tenga cuidado porque dejar la energía encendida en un calentador de agua con fugas es extremadamente peligroso, especialmente si planea tocar el tanque.
Si el calentador de agua funciona con gas, debe haber un interruptor para apagarlo. Gas o electricidad, siempre apague la energía antes de comenzar cualquier proceso de bricolaje.
Next, turn off the cold water and then the hot water valve (main water valve). Once power and water have stopped running to the tank, and it’s properly drained, you can begin to address the issue.
Reparar la fuga
Hay algunas áreas que puede revisar por su cuenta, incluidas las entradas y salidas. Podría ser algo tan simple como una conexión suelta. Se puede usar una llave para apretar el hardware y detener una fuga causada por entradas y salidas sueltas sin ayuda.
Una válvula rota es otro culpable común. Si tiene experiencia en cambiar una válvula, podría abordar este proyecto por su cuenta. La mayoría de los propietarios necesitan un profesional para esto. Hay algunas razones por las que es mejor llamar a un profesional.
- Un profesional sabe qué válvula nueva se necesita
- Un montaje inadecuado podría causar mayores problemas con el calentador.
If the reason the tank is leaking stems from a crack or hole, it’s probably game over. Not you, nor a professional will be able to remedy a hole or crack. Most heaters will need to be replaced entirely in this situation.
Llame a un experto
Si ha llegado el momento de llamar a un profesional en Salt Lake City, Mr Expert Plumbing puede ayudarlo. Llamanos for ongoing maintenance or repair. We’re always happy to lend a hand.
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