Hot Water Heater Leaking From Bottom How Long Will It Last

Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are.

Hot water heater leaking from bottom how long will it last.

For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or. First turn off the water heater. A leaking water heater doesn t mean that it needs replacing but you will want to fix any leaks as soon as possible. It doesn t matter if everything in the basement is junk you still have to deal with several hundred gallons to clean up and dry out.

While it s hard to put an exact lifespan to your water heater nothing lasts forever. Most experts recommend water heater replacement by the tenth year. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it but that really is not recommended. Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out.

If your water heater is in a location that will cause damage to your home you should strongly consider replacing it after 10 years or before if any of the following symptoms occur. A leaking drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping either out of the drain opening or around the valve itself. Even a small amount of water can cause a huge amount of damage so it s important to asses the situation as soon as possible. Check to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise.

If you have been using the same water heater for more than ten years then the time may soon be up. Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage. All water heaters have a drain near the bottom of the unit so that the tank can be emptied before removal or during routine cleaning of the tank itself. A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan.

Once your water heater has been sitting for a few hours check to see if you still have a leak or any condensation present on the outside of your unit. Water heaters can last a long time but even the best ones can leak. To fix this problem start by shutting down the power or the gas supply to your unit and let it just sit anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. Water heater tanks won t last forever.

Flushing the sediment from your tank and replacing the anode rod as needed will help keep your tank healthy but time will eventually take its toll. It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking. The most likely scenario in this case is that sediment has built up and corroded the bottom of the tank causing a serious problem and the need for an entirely new water heater. You can check the serial number on the heater to confirm the year of manufacture.

If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you.