Water heaters add comfort to our daily lives and often aren’t thought about when they are working properly. Then one day comes along and you are smacked in the face with a cold stream of water getting into the shower or low water pressure when you’re trying to wash your dishes from family dinner. Both issues can be caused by a leak in your water heater. Start by looking around your water heater to see if you can find the source before calling a professional to come out and fix it.
Drain Valve
A loose drain valve is one of the most common reasons for a leaky water heater. If the drain valve is loose, it will slowly leak water but it can easily be tightened with a wrench until it is snug, but not too tight.
Too Much Pressure
A water heater will also leak if there is too much pressure built up inside and the excess pressure will push water out of the tank. This typically happens when the temperature on the hot water heater is set too high.
Old Tank
Old water heaters were made to last many years but as they approach the end of their lifespan, they begin to rust and corrode. When the corrosion gets too bad, water will begin to leak. This is a good sign that it’s time to replace your water heater before complete failure, which can cause flooding in a home.
Condensation
Condensation on your hot water heater is completely normal, but oftentimes tricks the homeowner into thinking there is a leak. Since it’s not a major problem, you can simply wipe down the outside of the tank to remove the condensation.
For any service and maintenance to your water heater, boiler, or furnace, call Boston Unique Indoor Comfort today at (781) 933-7878.