Causes of a Water Heater Leak
Your hot water heater is at the hub of your home. Without it, you couldn't take long, hot showers, scrub your pots and pans clean or give your dog a bath. Almost every homeowner will find a water heater leaking at some point. A leak can be caused by tank corrosion, faulty plumbing, inadequate seals or other aging, defective or improperly installed parts of your water heater. Routine maintenance can save you both money and inconvenience. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basics
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Water heaters come in either gas or electric models. The only real difference between the two is that electric water heaters have electric heating elements, while gas water heaters use a gas burner and an interior chimney. They both have large steel tanks, a dip tube that brings tap water in, a pipe that sends hot water out, a thermostat that regulates the temperature of the water, a drain valve so you can empty the tank, and a temperature/pressure relief valve for safety. As cold water comes into the tank, the heating elements heat the water. The hot water rises to the top and is released when you turn your tap on, while the denser cold water remains on the bottom to be heated. A leak can occur at any point along the water journey in and out of the hot water heater.
Tank
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A water heater usually holds 40 to 60 gallons of water. It has an outer cover over a steel tank with insulation in between. The bottom of this tank is the most vulnerable part because mineral deposits and sediment can build up on the tank floor and cause corrosion. A magnesium or aluminum sacrificial anode rod is screwed into the interior of the steel tank to prevent corrosion by "sacrificing" itself to the corroding elements. These rods corrode instead of the tank steel and usually last about seven years. After this rod is exhausted, the corrosive material will begin to damage the tank and a leak will occur.
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Pipes and Valves
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A hot water heater has several valves and pipes that could be faulty, loose or worn out, causing a leak. The pressure relief valve, for example, may be leaking because you have the thermostat turned up too high, the water pressure supplied to your home is too strong or the valve is broken.
The drain valve may be loose or, in electric water heaters, the heating element gasket may need replacing. The dip tube and the hot water pipe may have loose fittings that either need tightening or replacement. Check each of these parts of your water heater to assess which is the culprit. Make sure the water "leaking" is not just condensation dripping down the outside of your water heater.
Maintenance
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Give your hot water heater a routine once-over every year. Check for leaks around fittings, valves, gaskets and the bottom and outside of the tank. If anything looks corroded or cracked, replace it.
The two most important parts of the water heater to check are the temperature/pressure valve and the sacrificial anode rod. It is likely that you will have to hire a professional to replace the temperature/pressure relief valve, but you can usually check your anode rod for corrosion yourself. If bare wire is showing on the rod, replace it to keep your steel water tank from corroding and developing a leak.
Drain your water heater tank once per year to check for damage and see if sediment is present.
Warnings
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Remember that the water heater contains extremely hot water. Proceed with caution whenever you are opening valves, emptying the tank or painting near the water heater. Turn off the water supply, as well as the gas or the electricity whenever you are working on the water heater.
If you are not an experienced handyman with the proper tools, it is best to hire a professional, because working with gas, electricity and water under pressure can be hazardous.
Keep your hot water heater thermostat set to between 120 and 140 degrees F to meet your pressure relief valve standards, save money and to prevent scalding, especially if you have children living or frequently visiting in your home.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of hobvias sudoneighm
