You probably don’t give much thought to your home’s hot water heater. As long as it’s providing hot water for your morning shower – it’s doing the job it was designed to.
When you start to notice a decrease in water pressure – or you’re noticing a lack of hot water coming from your water heater – your water heater may be leaking. The easiest way to determine if your water heater is leaking is to examine the area around the water heater tank for any leaking water.
If you discover that the water heater is leaking, it’s important to call a technician as soon as possible. Leaks can quickly worsen and cause damage to your flooring and home. In most cases, a leaking water heater can mean that the system is past its useful life and will need to be replaced. If your water heater stops working properly, or you notice that your water heater is leaking, contact the technicians at “Doc” Dancer Inc. today for replacement services.
Common Causes of Water Heater Leaks
The technicians at “Doc” Dancer recently made a list of some of the common reasons water heaters leak and what they mean.
Your water heater tank is older
Water heaters typically last about 10 to 12 years. When they approach their useful life – and rust and corrosion starts to take its toll on the unit – they are more prone to springing leaks on the bottom of the tank. Failure to address the leak in a timely manner can lead to total failure and significant damage to your home.
Loose drain valve
The technicians at “Doc” Dancer have found that one of the most common causes of water heater leaks is a loose drain valve. Your drain valve should be located on the outside of the water heater toward the bottom of the tank and is used to drain the water heater tank during routine maintenance.
If the drain valve becomes loose, it can cause a water heater leak. This is a fairly simple repair, as homeowners can use a wrench to tighten the drain valve and stop water from leaking. Most times that a drain valve is loose and causing water to leak, it won’t require service from a professional.
Temperature and pressure relief valve
Your water heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) is a safety device on the top of the water heater that activates if the temperature or pressure in the water heater tank are too high. If this occurs, the valve will open and release hot water to decrease the pressure, causing a water heater leak. If the relief valve is frequently being used, there’s an issue with the water heater that’s causing an increase in pressure and temperatures, and your water heater may have to be replaced.
Inlet and outlet connections are leaking
The cold water inlet and hot water outlet connections are located on the top of your water heater tank. The connections can rust over time where water enters and exits. If they’re leaking, water can form around the connections. Oftentimes, this is a sign that your water heater is older and needs to be replaced. For water heater replacement services, contact Doc Dancer.
Contact “Doc” Dancer for Water Heater Replacement and Installation
You rely on your home’s water heater every day to provide you with hot water for showers, washing dishes and washing clothes. When your water heater is leaking, it can lead to damage to items and property around the leaking water heater. If you’re noticing any issues with your water heating unit, including leaking water or a lack of hot water entirely, contact the friendly technicians at “Doc” Dancer today for water heater replacement services.