If your water heater is leaking, this is definitely cause for concern. A leaking water heater obviously isn’t functioning properly, the leak could be causing a great deal of damage, and finding what is causing the leak can be incredibly difficult. Thankfully, there are certain signs to look for that may indicate why your water heater is leaking and what may be causing it. Here are some of the common causes of water heater leaks.
Old Water Tank
One reason why your water heater may be leaking is simply because it is getting older. This can happen when a tank gets older because things begin to break down both inside and outside the tank. The inside of the tank may have become eroded, thus causing a leak to spring out. Issues with an old water tank can often be patched up or otherwise temporarily fixed, but the long-term solution is definitely to have your old water heater replaced for a new one.
Drain Valve Issues
When working properly, you can use your drain valve to empty out your water tank. However, if you are having issues with a leaking water heater, this may be due to a malfunctioning drain valve. When the valve isn’t closed properly, or is somehow broken, this will cause your water heater to leak all the time, and will create a big problem for you. Thankfully, if this valve is broken, it doesn’t require you to replace the entire water heater in order to fix it.
Too Much Pressure
If the pressure in your water heater is too high, this can also cause issues with leaks. The reason for this being that the pressurized water in the water heater has so much pressure behind it, and nowhere to go, so it will escape through any crack or crevice that it possibly can. Depending on how high the pressure is, this can be a real problem.
Broken Pressure Relief Valve
If the pressure relief valve in your water heater is broken, it will not properly decrease the pressure when it needs to. As previously stated, this can cause the water heater to leak water out, instead of letting pressurized steam escape. This is a part that can sometimes simply get stuck, but if it is broken, a replacement part will be needed.
Problems With Inlets And Outlets
If there are any issues with your inlet or outlet connections, then water may leak through these sources. For example, if the inlet where the cold water comes in has an issue, then water may leak out of it as the water comes in. The same can be said of the outlet where the hot water comes out. Thankfully, tightening the inlets and outlets generally fix the issue.
Interior Tank Layer Leak
If you have a leak coming from the interior shell of your water heater, this can often be difficult to spot. This is because no part of the interior tank is exposed. This can make this issue almost impossible to diagnose on your own, but it is definitely possible to spot and fix this leak with the help of a professional.
Build-Up Of Sediment
If you fail to clean your water heater on a regular basis, sediment can build up in the bottom of the tank. This sediment can then cause cracks to form inside your water heater. This is something that can be avoided if your tank is cleaned, but if it isn’t, you will have likely be dealing with replacement if this issue occurs.
The best way to diagnose any issues with your leaking water heater, and to then get them repaired properly, is to hire a professional to take care of it for you. To get the help you need today, schedule service with Maffei Services.
