Water Heater Leaking? What to Do

Tanks corrode inside over time, and sediment from local water builds up at the bottom. Most last roughly 8 to 12 years.

Rust at the base, water under the tank, popping noises, rusty hot water or a tank over ten years old.

Close the cold water valve above the tank, turn off power or set gas to off as the label says, and keep water away from finished floors.

Many Caldwell homes have heaters in the garage or a utility closet. Leaks can run under walls into rooms next door.

A drain pan piped to a drain and a leak sensor catch most leaks early.

A licensed plumber replaces the heater. The restoration company handles the water.

Tank water is usually clean, so fast extraction can save carpet. See water extraction.

Draining a few gallons once a year removes sediment, as many manuals suggest.

The temperature and pressure relief valve has a pipe that runs toward the floor. Water dripping from it can mean pressure or temperature is too high, or the valve is failing. Have a plumber check it.

A small tank above the heater absorbs pressure changes. If it fails, pressure rises and stresses the heater and fixtures. A plumber can test it.

Tankless units hold less water, but their fittings and valves can still leak. Check under and around them.

If water reached a gas heater's burner or controls, do not relight it. Have it checked first.

A sudden tank rupture is usually covered as sudden damage; the old tank itself is not. A slow leak may not be covered.

A heater in a garage is less risky than one in a closet next to carpet. If yours sits near finished floors, a pan, a sensor and an automatic shut-off are worth the small cost.

A plumber for the heater; for the water on the floor and under the house, call (208) 923-0564 for a restoration provider.

Minerals in local water settle at the bottom of the tank. Over time, they make popping noises, reduce efficiency and speed up corrosion. Flushing the tank once a year, as many manuals suggest, helps.

Tanks have an anode rod that corrodes instead of the tank. A plumber can check and replace it, which can extend the tank's life.

If the tank is over ten years old and showing rust or leaks, plan to replace it. Waiting until it fails usually costs more.

Close valves, take photos and call. Fast extraction and drying save floors, walls and the crawl space below.

Rusty water from hot taps only, a ring of rust at the base, a damp floor around the tank and loud popping are the most common warnings. If you see two of these together, plan a replacement soon.

Many homes keep the heater in a closet next to bedrooms or living areas. Water from a failure spreads under walls into those rooms. A pan with a drain line, or a sensor that shuts the water off, protects the rooms around it.

Check the age, look for rust at the base, flush the tank yearly, test the relief valve as the manual says, keep a pan under it and add a leak sensor. These steps take little time and prevent most water heater floods.

A water heater is a large tank of water inside your home. Know where its valve is, watch for signs of age and replace it before it fails.

Some homes have the water heater in a crawl space or a small closet over it. A failure there floods the space directly. A drain pan, a leak sensor and an easy path to the shut-off valve are especially important in these homes.

Ask the plumber about the right size, whether a tankless unit makes sense for your home, and whether a pan, an expansion tank and a shut-off valve will be included. Planning the replacement now avoids a rushed decision later, when the old tank fails on a weekend and water is already on the floor.

Hang a tag on the cold water valve above the heater and on the main shut-off valve for the house, so anyone at home can find and close them quickly in an emergency.

Check the age on the label. Replacing on your schedule costs less than after a flood.

Questions about water heater leaking? what to do? Call (208) 923-0564 to reach a local Caldwell provider, 24 hours a day.