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Plumbing

How to Fix Your Leaking Water Heater


It’s easy to ignore simple and small leaks on your water heater. But if this issue isn’t addressed fast, then it can evolve into a full-blown crisis. 

Water damage doesn’t have to involve flooding. Even small drops of water can cause significant damage to your floors, carpets, and walls. Besides, in some cases, a leaking water heater may be a symptom of other deeper more serious underlying issues. It’s, therefore, important to have the leaking water heater checked out just to be on the safe side.

The problem with water heater leaks is that they get worse with time. This means that if you don’t immediately fix the issue, it gets worse and worse by the day. 

So, here are several steps you can take to deal with the problem:

Figure Out Where the Leak is Happening

Leakages can originate from anywhere. However, just because there’s a puddle of water underneath your heater doesn’t always mean it’s leaking or that water heater repair is needed. 

Sometimes this moisture is caused by condensation, which is perfectly okay. But until you’re able to exactly pinpoint the leakage, then it’s hard to fix it.

Turn Off the Main Power Supply

If you spot your hot water heater leaking, you should never work on it when it’s on. In that case, the moment you’ve detected the leak, turn off the main power supply before starting to fix it. 

In case yours is an electric water heater, you can turn it off by first of all locating the circuit breaker and switching it OFF. 

And when we say circuit breaker, we don’t mean the breaker in your home. We mean the one fitted on your water heater. 

As for folks who have a natural gas heater, find the switch, normally located somewhere on the heater and switch the appliance off.

Turn Off the Water 

Once you’ve turned off the water heater, it’s time to now turn off the water supply. There should be a valve attached to your appliance that easily allows you to do this. 

However, in case you have a water heater leaking from bottom, it may be hard to locate and turn off the valve. 

In such a situation, you will have no choice but to shut off the main water supply to your home. This is a little inconvenient but it will make it easier for you to fix the leak as fast as possible.

Repair the Leak or Replace the Water Heater 

The moment your water is off, you can now move and repair the leak. So, as we have already noted above, leaks don’t just happen from nowhere. 

If you notice the hot water tank leaking, it could suggest that it’s damaged. The extent of this damage will then determine if you’re going to repair or replace the water heater. 

Secondly, if this is the third or fourth time you’re repairing a leaking water heater, then it may be time to get a new appliance. Better yet, you can have an expert examine the heater and get a second opinion of what could be the issue. 

As for people with small leaks, simple repairs should fix the problem. However, if you’re not familiar with water heaters, maybe it will be a good idea to call a professional plumber instead of trying to repair the appliance on your own. 

A professional plumber will be able to do a closer inspection of the heater and tell you if more repairs will be needed. They will also be in a position to determine what exactly caused the leak and fix it once and for all.

Water heaters are essential in any home and they play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life. But if they start leaking, then something is wrong. Have them checked fast to avoid any issues in the future.


Contact a local expert to fix a leaking water heater once and for all and you won’t have to worry about it anymore!

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