My Water Heater Is Leaking. What Should I Do?
Finding water around your water heater is never a great way to start the day.
The good news is that water around a water heater does not always mean the tank itself has failed. Sometimes the problem is a leaking connection, valve, or another repairable component.
But if the tank itself is leaking, the water heater generally needs to be replaced.
The first step is figuring out which situation you have.
If there is an active leak, shut off the water first
If water is actively coming from the water heater, look for the cold-water shutoff valve on the pipe entering the top of the tank and turn it off.
That stops additional water from entering the heater and can greatly reduce the amount of water that ends up on the floor.
If you have an electric water heater and can safely access your electrical panel, turn off the water-heater breaker.
For a gas water heater, follow the shutoff instructions on the unit if necessary. If you smell gas, do not attempt to troubleshoot the water heater yourself. Leave the area and contact your gas utility.
If there is standing water around electrical equipment or you are not comfortable operating any of the shutoffs, don’t take chances. Call for help instead.
Where is the water actually coming from?
This is the question we usually want answered first.
Take a flashlight and look around the water heater without taking anything apart.
Water near the top of the heater
Check the hot- and cold-water connections and the piping above the tank.
A leaking fitting or water connection can sometimes drip down the outside of the heater and make it look like the tank itself is leaking.
These problems are often repairable.
Water coming from the T&P relief valve
The temperature and pressure relief valve, usually called the T&P valve, is a safety device attached to the water heater with a discharge pipe running from it.
Occasional discharge from this valve can indicate excessive pressure, excessive temperature, a problem with the valve itself, or another issue that should be investigated.
Don’t plug or cap a leaking T&P valve. It is an important safety device.
Water coming from the drain valve
Near the bottom of a tank water heater is a drain valve used for draining and flushing the tank.
If the water is clearly coming from this valve, the tank itself may still be fine. A leaking drain valve can often be repaired or replaced.
Water coming from underneath the tank
This is the one we don’t like to see.
If water is originating from the bottom of the actual tank, rather than dripping down from somewhere above, there is a good chance the internal tank has failed.
Once the steel tank has corroded through and begun leaking, there isn’t a practical repair. The water heater needs to be replaced.
Sometimes the source isn’t obvious
Water has a way of traveling.
A small leak at the top of a water heater can run down behind the tank and appear at the bottom. Nearby plumbing can leak onto the heater. In some situations, condensation can also create moisture that looks like a leak.
So don’t automatically assume that seeing water underneath the heater means you need a new one.
This is also why photos are so useful.
At Water Heater Boys, we can often get a pretty good idea of what is happening by looking at a few clear photos or a short video of the heater and talking with you by phone or text.
For a straightforward tank replacement, that can save you from having to schedule an appointment just to have someone come to the house and give you a price.
Does the age of the water heater matter?
Definitely.
If you have a relatively new water heater and the problem is a leaking fitting or replaceable valve, repairing it may make perfect sense.
If you have an older tank that is beginning to leak from the tank itself, replacement is usually the answer.
The age also matters when deciding how much money it makes sense to put into repairing an older unit. A repair that makes sense on a 3-year-old heater may not make much sense on a heater already approaching the end of its useful life.
If you don’t know the age, take a photo of the manufacturer’s label on the side of the tank. The serial number can usually be used to determine when it was manufactured.
Don’t wait too long on a leaking tank
A tiny amount of water underneath an old water heater can be easy to ignore, especially if the heater is still producing hot water.
That’s not a good reason to wait.
A tank that has started leaking because of internal corrosion is not going to repair itself. The opening can get larger, and the amount of water escaping can increase.
A leaking heater in a garage with a properly drained pan may be less immediately damaging than one sitting inside the house, upstairs, or next to finished flooring. Either way, once you know the tank itself is leaking, it is time to plan the replacement.
What should I send Water Heater Boys?
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, you don’t have to diagnose it yourself.
Send us:
- A photo showing the entire water heater
- A photo of the area where you see water
- A photo of the connections and venting at the top
- A clear photo of the manufacturer’s model and serial-number label
- Your city
- A short description of what happened and whether the water is still actively leaking
For many standard tank replacements, we can review that information and discuss the job with you by phone or text without requiring an initial visit to your home.
If the situation is more complicated or you’re considering changing to tankless or a heat pump water heater, we’ll let you know if we need to see the installation in person.
Repair or replace? Start by finding the source
The most important distinction with a leaking water heater is simple:
A leaking connection or replaceable component may be repairable. A leaking tank is not.
If you’re seeing water around your heater and aren’t sure which one you have, send Water Heater Boys a few photos and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
Request an estimate or call Water Heater Boys at (650) 844-2305.