Your water heater is essential when it comes to keeping a comfortable, clean, and happy home or business. However, when the water heater malfunctions, it can cause serious damage, disturbing the established peace. A leaking water heater will usually go unnoticed for far too long. This leaves you with excessive water damage.
We’ve provided a few tips on how to prevent a water heater from leaking and how to fix it should a leak already occur.
Signs Your Water Heater is Leaking
Regular maintenance and monitoring your water heater is key to spotting leaks in your garage. This will prevent small problems from becoming larger ones which equates to more costly ones. Here are a few signs that your water heater may be leaking and requires professional attention.
Little to No Hot Water
An obvious sign that you have a leaking water heater may be the lack or absence of hot water. Though no hot water could be caused by a lot of things, it could also be an indication that your pilot light has gone out. A leaking water heater could have easily had the pilot light drowned out, thereby eliminating your source of hot water.
Pressure Relief Valve Leaking
A too high pressure in your water heater can cause the valve to drip or leak. This can be extremely hazardous. You’ll want to contact a plumber immediately to have the pressure assessed and properly adjusted.
Moist Water Heater Stand
A water heater is insulated and at no point should it feel damp to the touch or have built up condensation. This also means that the stand surrounding the water heater should remain dry at all times.
Pooled Water Around the Water Heater
If you notice puddles or pools of water around your water heater, then this is an immediate sign of concern. Don’t delay in getting your water heater fixed. Immediately contact an emergency contractor and have an inspection so that the leak be addressed and fixed or replaced.
Your Next Move
If any of the above symptoms sound familiar to you, then it’s crucial you take immediate steps to remedy the issue. In order to lessen damage, save money, and keep your household safe, it’s important to act now. If your water heater has sprung a leak, then follow these steps:
1. Turn off the main water supply valve
Located above the water heater should be the shut-off valve. This valve will only shut off water to the water heater and not to the rest of your home. Do this first before moving on to step 2.
2. Shut down the water heater itself
You should find visual or written instructions on the exterior of your water heater that will help explain how to shut it off. A black knob near the gas control valve is a standard indicator of the shut-off switch.
3. Call in the experts
Though only three steps, your water heater can be a very dangerous piece of machinery to handle. If handled improperly, a water heater has two extremely dangerous elements – pressure and hot water – that can do some serious damage.
Don’t risk your or others health and well-being by trying to take this on yourself. Enlist the services of proper, qualified technicians to can come and take care of these issues for you.
It always pays to be well prepared for whatever the future brings. This is also why you should have a restoration company you know and trust. Mission Restorations has experts in fire, water, and mold restoration. If ever in need of services, don’t hesitate to call the best damage restoration team in Charlotte and its surrounding areas at 704-727-2000.
