A water heater leaks from loose fittings, a failing drain or relief valve, or a corroded tank. Fittings and valves can be repaired, but water coming from the tank body means the tank has failed and needs replacing. Shut off the power or gas and the cold supply, then call Fort Worth Plumbing in Fort Worth.
What do I do in the first few minutes?
Turn off the electricity at the breaker or set a gas unit to pilot or off. Then close the cold-water valve on the pipe feeding the top of the heater. Put a bucket under the drip and protect the floor. Do those before you diagnose anything.
Where is the water actually coming from?
Dry the area with a towel, then watch for where the first bead forms.
On top, the leak is usually at a pipe connection or a nipple. Those can be tightened or redone. Beside the unit, look at the pipe running down from the temperature and pressure relief valve. Steady water there can mean excess pressure or temperature, and it should not be capped or plugged. Near the bottom, the drain valve is a common drip and can be replaced.
- Top connections: repairable.
- Relief valve discharge: find out why it opens before replacing it.
- Drain valve at the base: repairable.
- Seeping from under the jacket or from the tank bottom: the tank is done.
Why does a leaking tank mean replacement?
The steel tank rusts from the inside, and once the liner lets go there is no patch that holds against constant water pressure. Sediment and age drive that corrosion. If the tank is the source, spending money on fittings only delays the same outcome.
Is water around the base always a leak?
Not always. Condensation can drip from a gas unit or from cold pipes, and a puddle that stops quickly may be that. A puddle that returns after you wipe it up is a leak.
How quickly should I get someone out?
Quickly, if the tank is the source. A failed tank can release everything it holds. Fort Worth Plumbing is open Mon–Sat 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, so call and describe where the water is appearing.
Can I keep using a leaking water heater?
Only if the leak is a minor fitting drip and the supply is shut off whenever you are away. A tank-body leak should be switched off and drained, because it will not stop on its own.
Is water coming out of the overflow pipe normal?
Brief drips while heating can happen. Steady flow points to pressure or temperature trouble, so have a plumber check the relief valve and the system before anyone caps it.
Will tightening the connections stop a leak at the bottom?
Only if the leak is truly at the drain valve or a fitting. If water seeps through the tank wall, no amount of tightening will help.