Have you ever visited your garage after days only to be surprised by what you see right Infront of your eyes?. Several questions pop up in your mind. Is my water heater leaking? Can I get it repaired? What if it is too damaged and has to be replaced? How do I get a water heater replacement ? Well, not to worry as we have an answer to all your questions.
In Carlsbad, many people have experienced a leak in their water heater at least once in their life. At first it might seem like it’s not a big deal but it can eventually turn into a big mess if important steps are not taken immediately. Most people prefer to get a water heater replacement in San Diego when they notice a leak but that is not the only solution. As long as the damage is not beyond repair, you should always first consider repairing a heater.
Examining your water heater to check if it is leaking
Chances that your water heater is leaking in San Diego are high if you notice water flooded near your heater. The flooded water can cause significant damage to the floors of your house and even the walls! This damage done to your property will increase the repair bills.
But just because you notice a water puddle doesn’t always mean your heater is leaking. Other issues with plumbing can also be the source of water puddles around the heater. If you are not sure about where the water is coming from, dry that area with towels and check it again after a couple of days. If you still observe water around your heater without an obvious source of water, then your water heater might be leaking.
6 simple ways to repair a leaking water heater
When you notice a water heater leak, getting it repaired should be on the top of your priority list. A few common ways to repair the water heater are listed below.
Close tanks water supply valve
Switching off the water supply to your heater is the first thing you should do once you are sure your heater is leaking. Two plumbing pipes are usually present in a water heater. The hot water pipe supplies hot water while the other one is a cold-water pipe. The shutoff valve is only present in the cold pipe. By turning off the shutoff valve you can stop water supply to your leaking water heater.
In case your heater lacks a shutoff valve, you can use your home’s main shutoff valve. By shutting this off you can stop water supply to your house so water supply to your heater will be cut off too. Power supply of your heater should also be turned off.
T&P Relief Valve Repairs
A faulty or clogged valve may cause water to leak from your T&P relief valve. T&P relief valve prevents pressure development and overheating inside the tank. You may notice that water is leaking from threads of T&P relief valve where it is attached to the tank. Seeing signs of corrosion indicates there might be a problem with the internal tank. But if the internal tank doesn’t seem to be damaged, then you can wrap the threads of T&P valve with Teflon tape. After that just fix it back in the tank.
Drain Valve Repairs
Water leaking from the drain valve might mean the valve has debris inside or that the valve itself is faulty. If you are not sure about replacing the valve, you can just fix the drain valve by using a pipe wrench. This will fix the drain valve until you decide to replace it. When you eventually decide to replace the drain valve, you should first drain the tank. The hot water can burn your skin so keep that in mind while you try repairing your drain valve.
Internal Tank Leaks
If the bottom of your tank is leaking, this might be a sign that there is some serious internal problem. Disassembling the water heater for internal repairs by yourself is a horrible idea. In case the internal tank of your water heater is damaged, replacing the water heater is the only obvious solution.
Loose pipe fittings
Your water heater might be leaking because of loose fitting in the pipes. Use a wrench to tighten the loose pipe fittings.
Replace your water heater
As the water heaters get older, sediments start to settle in your water heater which eventually results in the development of rust. Regularly draining and washing your water heater can slow down the rusting process. But still it won’t benefit much if there is a leak present in the bottom of your heater. In that case, the only solution left is to replace the water heater. Water heater replacemen is a job of professionals and you should immediately refer to them.
An average lifespan of a water heater is 8 to 10 years and you would eventually have to replace it as it gets older.
Conclusion
You have to decide whether you want to repair or replace your water heater depending on the type of leak. Consider the cost of repairs and age of the water heater while deciding. Sometimes the damage is beyond repair and in those cases, it is better to get a new water heater. However, if the problem is detected earlier, not only would it be easier to repair, but it would also remove the need to replace the water heater. Thus, every water heater owner must have leak detectors. The detectors will give signals whenever a leak is detected to alert you. So instead of getting a water heater replacement in San Diego, just detect the leaks earlier and repair them before the damage gets worse!
Read More: Water Heater Repair in San Diego and Los Angeles
Author Bio:-Laura Harness
Laura is a marketing manager at All Star Plumbing & Restoration. With years of experience in the plumbing industry, she loves to create awareness about the causes, problems, and repair solutions of water damage and slab leak. She shares expert tips to lower utility bills and keep your AC, heater, and other appliances in optimum condition leading to longer lifespan.
Check all the recent articles and know everything about water damage repair, slab leak repair, tools to remove clogging, and HVAC appliances installation, maintenance, and repair.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllStarPlumbingService
Twitter: https://twitter.com/All_Plumbers
