Gas Water Heater Leaking From Bottom

In most cases a build up of sediment is the leading cause of this.

Gas water heater leaking from bottom.

Overtime if the tank is not regularly flushed out this build up can cause the tank to rust and spring a leak. Replace the water heater if the leak is at the bottom of the tank. Another reason your hot water heater may be leaking from bottom could be due to an internal leak. If during your sleuthing you determined the leak wasn t coming from any of the above spots the trouble is at the bottom of.

Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage. Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out. First turn off the water heater. Set the dial to pilot or off.

A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue. This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve. After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely. A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan.

For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or. If you have a leaking gas powered water heater we recommend that you shut off the gas supply before working with the tank. See below for a visual illustration of a gas water. Check to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise.

It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking. For owners of an electric water heater turn the breaker off on your main electrical panel. How to prevent water heater leaking from the bottom. All water heaters have a drain near the bottom of the unit so that the tank can be emptied before removal or during routine cleaning of the tank itself.

If you have a gas water heater look for the on off dial located on the gas regulator on the side of your water heater. Most water heaters last between 10 to 13 years and if one is leaking from the bottom of the tank inside the burner compartment old age might be the cause. Eventually the bottom of the tank will rust through and begin to leak. Before you try to find the leak you should turn off the power to your water heater.

A leaking drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping either out of the drain opening or around the valve itself. There should be a dedicated gas shut off valve on the gas line leading to the tank.