Perhaps you’ve notice that your hot water heater got some leaks and you think it’s not that urgent to fix it. Unfortunately, neglecting this little issue would turn into a big and expensive problem. There are actually several ways to fix the common leaks in both gas and electric water heaters.
Doing the repair by yourself is possible but for safety reasons, some more complex repairs or replacements should be handle by a professional. You should also consider other potential problems aside from leaks.
Fixing Leaks in a Storage-Style Hot Water Heater
Following safety measures is essential prior to any repairs. Read and learn the following guidelines.
1. On electric devices, turning OFF the water heater power is the first thing you need to do. Never open any access panels with the power on.
2. Check first the multimeter on an outlet that you’re working before you proceed to the checking of the electric water heater.
3. On gas heaters, change the gas pilot control valve to pilot.
4. Make sure to turn OFF the water supply for both electric and gas heaters. This is critical and you might get yourself burned or scalded during your repair in case hot water comes out.
T& P Relief Valve Leaks
Sometimes, the water temperature becomes very hot that causes leak at the T&P relief valve. Do the following steps to address the problem.
1. Look at the thermostat and check the temperature. Lower the temperature if it’s very high. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the temperature should be set at 120 °F (49 °C), which is the right one to balance comfort and safety.
2. You have to make sure that the thermostat fits tight enough against the tank
3. Examine if your thermostat is functioning and replaced it if it’s not.
4. The valve could be defective and requires replacement. In replacing the valve, you have to drain your tank first.