Water heater leaks can be a minor malfunction, but can quickly become a major problem. Even a small leak can damage your home. Mold can grow on wet areas, which can be a problem for you and your family. Because of this, it is important to take measures against the leak and fix the problem as soon as possible.

If your water heater is leaking, take the following steps to fix the issue :

Step 1: determine if the water heater is the source of the leak

Just the presence of water near the hot water tank does not necessarily mean that the water is leaking. The reservoir often creates a seal that can drip to the ground. So test it for moisture. If you cannot find compression in the tank, look for other pipes and fittings that may be leaking.

If you cannot find another source of the leak, clean it up and check after a few hours. Assuming there was no problem again, it probably wasn’t serious. However, if you return and find another pool of water, your water heater could leak.

Step 2. Turn off the power

This is an important precaution, especially if you have an electric water heater. Electricity and water are a dangerous combination. So find your switch and turn off the switch on your water heater.If you have gas heating, locate the on / off panel and set it to the “off” position.

Step 3. Shut off the cold water supply

If the water heater has a large and obvious leak, then you should disconnect the cold water source of your water heater. But be careful: the water leaving your heater can be up to 30 degrees Celsius. Any contact can cause severe burns.

The cold water shut-off valve is usually located above the hot water tank. Either it’s a knob that you need to lower, or you have to choose that you need to turn it clockwise (right) to close. If you cannot safely reach this valve without contact with water, you should find a main isolation valve in your home. If a leak appears and you have not yet found the source, you should remove the valve with the power supply on to make it easier to find.

Step 4: Find the source of the leak

Finding leaks correctly before contacting a plumber makes it easy to fix the problem. Carefully inspect the reservoir, inlet and outlet pipes to find the source of the leak. After detection, if you have not already done so, turn off the water and call a specialist to solve the problem.

Preventive measures

First of all, water heaters should be checked regularly for leaks anyway. Simply scan pipe connections, valves, plumbing and even assemblies for suspected water contamination. In particular, inspect areas where connections have been lost. As long as there is no excess water, your device will look great. If you find a leak, either tighten the connection with a wrench or contact a plumber immediately – a leaking reservoir can cause serious damage if left unchecked.

Occasionally check and clean the water heater by pouring a small bucket of tap water into the bottom of the tank. This is known as “mini flash”, whereas full flash is better. This method is convenient and easy to use. . Draining water in this way can remove build-up sludge that can cause corrosion, rust or even increase the efficiency of the device.

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Little Falls, Rutherford and Teaneck.