The electric water heater is one of the common household items in the house. It intakes cold water and supplies hot water. In this conversion process, if there is any leakage in the water heater, then it indicates the bad condition of the water heater?
Leakage in the water heaters is a common issue. So it is not necessary to replace a new one, but if you negotiate this issue, it will lead to severe damages to the internal parts of the water heater. It is important to check for any leakage in the water heater after installation.
In this blog, I will explain to you some techniques to research the source of a leak and some simple tips and techniques to troubleshoot the leaking water heater.
This blog answers these questions and one common question asked by every is the conclusion for this article.
- What to do if the water leak from the water heater?.
- Are you really need a new water heater?
With some simple research, you can easily fix it!
- Find where the leak is?
- Shut off the main water supply line for the heater.
- Shut off the power supply to the heater
- Fix the issue after all water drain.
Note - The procedure should be done carefully So I recommend you to call a plumber & technician.
Check for leakage in valves of water heater
Temperature and pressure relief valves are one of the most important safety devices in your water heater. The function of the relief valve is to monitor the heat and pressure and should prevent it from exploding due to pressure.
If the pressure and heat buildup in the tank above the set limit, the valve opens and discharges some water through the drain valve. After the valve discharges it should close and save the water for future use.
Continuous Leakage of Water From the Relief Valves
Troubleshooting method 1; Check the drain tube of the relief valve
The relief valve discharges the water through the drain tube or overflow tube. So first, check the leakage of water in the overflow tube, if you feel water dripping or leaking then it's possible that the spring is corroded and the valve is not closing properly which is the sign of a loose connection.
Troubleshooting method 2; Check the threads of the relief valve
You can also check the threads of the relief valve to see if there's any water leaking around it. If you feel water dripping or slow continuous leakage then it's best to replace the relief valve or to threaten it with tape. I recommend you to do this with the technician.
Troubleshooting method 3; Check for intermediate leakage of water from the relief valve
If the relief valve uncontrollably opens and discharges the water intermittently without any need, then it's most probably due to normal cold water pressure expansion. This issue can be fixed by installing an expansion tank (diaphragm type) on the cold water supply line.
Check for Leakage in Pipe Connections
Pipes allow the water to move freely in their path to reach their destination. Pipe connection is the terminal point where pipes are connected. There are two main connections in a water heater that is inlet cold water pipeline and outlet hot water pipeline.
You need to investigate both the inlet and outlet valve connection for any water leakage. If any water is leaked from the pipe connection it should be fixed by the technician.
Check for Leakage in the inner tank
In case you did not find any leakage on the outer surface of the tank such as valves and connections and you still facing issues in the water tank then you have to check the inner tank for any leakage.
Troubleshooting method 1; Check for rust and leakage in insulation
Remove the outer cover and check the wetness of the insulation. If it is wet, then you have to replace a water heater with a new one because the inner insulation gets rusted.
or
You can replace the rusted tank with a newer one.
Check for rust in the heating element
If the heating element inside the water heater gets corroded there is a high chance of occurrence of cracks inside the water tank.
Troubleshooting method 1; Change the heating element or replace the water heater
Remove the top cover of the water heater and carefully uninstall the heating element. If it is reliable you can clean it and can reuse it otherwise it is better to change the heating element. This should be handled by a technician because this is not a DIY project.
If the replacement cost is high you can buy a new water heater.
Conclusion
Ok, now the question is, "Can I take a shower if my electric water heater is leaking?." This is the question asked by most people. My answer to this question is "NO, you should not take a shower when your water heater is leaking."
Troubleshooting method 1; Boil the water at the stove
I prefer you to boil the water in a separate vessel rather than using the leaking water heater.
What is the condition of your water heater? - Leave a comment😊