Water Heater Repair
How to Stop a Water Heater Leak
A leaking water heater can cause thousands of dollars' worth of damage to a home; therefore, a leak must be stopped as soon as possible. The origin of the leak must be determined, and there is a strong possibility that the tank will need to be replaced. Before a professional plumber arrives, take some steps to ensure that no further damage occurs.
The Only Repairable Kind of Leaks
If you determine that the leak is coming from one of the fittings or piping outside the tank itself, all you can really do to stop the leak is try tightening up on the fittings involved.
This article assumes that the leaking water heater is plumbed in with threaded fittings and piping. For water heaters plumbed in with copper tubing and sweat fittings, you might need to cut out and replace leaky fittings, if they cannot be re-soldered in place. See link below for helpful tips on Soldering Copper Tubing and Fittings.
Sometimes, water heater "pressure-relief" valves also go bad. That's the odd-looking fitting attached on the side of the water heater tank; and has a small handle on top for manual operation. If that device is leaking, it probably needs to be replaced. You will still have to drain the water heater some, so follow the steps below for shut-down and draining before you fiddle with the pressure-relief valve
A broken temperature and pressure relief valve is the most common cause for a leaking drainpipe on a hot water heater. The valve may be old and worn out, the temperature may be too high, or the water pressure may be exceeding the valve's maximum rating. Whatever the reason, fixing a leaking drainpipe on a hot water heater is simpler than you might expect.
There are several common causes of water heater seepage, ranging from loose valves to corroded water tanks. However, water pooling around your heater does not always indicate a leak. In many cases, condensation forms when cold water fills the tank and then drips down. If the problem appears when the tank is first filled or during chilly seasons (when incoming water is particularly cold) but then disappears when the water has had a chance to warm up, this usually indicates condensation.
If condensation is not your issue, check out more HERE.