How to Fix a Dripping Gas Water Heater

How to Fix a Dripping Gas Water Heater

How to Fix a Dripping Gas Water Heater

If your gas water heater is dripping, it is a problem you need to address immediately. The leak might be coming from the pressure and temperature valve, and if that’s the case, the pressure in the tank might be dangerously large. On the flip side, the tank itself could be damaged internally, and leaving the situation as it’s threats a rupture and sudden flood of scalding water. In most cases, the repair is not hard.

Locating the Drip

The only indication of a drip in the water heater may be a puddle on the Landscaping design Phoenix, and the origin of the leak may not be instantly apparent. The first thing to look for is condensation on the side of the tank. This is brought on by low temperature and higher humidity, and you can stop it with an insulation blanket. Check around the T&P; the drain valve for seepage, inspect the socket of the T&P; overflow tube near the Landscaping rocks Long Beach and look for leaks from the water pipes. If you can’t find any drips, they are probably coming from the underside of the tank.

Emptying the Heater

Unless condensation is actually the cause of the dripping, you’re going to have to make a fix, and you can’t do that securely while the heater is on and the tank is filled with hot water. Shut off the gas by turning the valve from the “On” into the “Off” position, and only to be safe, shut the permeable gas valve. Then turn off the cold water valve. After the water cools, then it is possible to empty the tank by connecting a water hose to the drain valve and extending it outside or into a floor drain. Open a minumum of one hot water faucet in the home to break the vacuum, then open the valve and let the water drain.

Tightening or Replacing Fittings

Once the heater is empty, it is possible to safely get rid of any fitting which has been seeping using a wrench and seal the threads with contractor’s tape before replacing it. You may realize that the threads have been corroded; if so, replace the fitting. If the T&P; valve had been leaking into the overflow tube, the valve itself might be defective, or there might be excessive pressure from the tank. It’s best to only have a professional replace the valve, and if the issue persists when you refill the tank, then it is time to turn off the heater and require a plumber to inspect your hot water system.

Clearing Mineral Deposits

If your tank is over a decade old and didn’t receive routine care, it might be filled with scale. Scale can get into the threads of the drain valve and stop the valve from closing. You need to replace the valve, but before you do, clear mineral deposits from the base of the tank. A simple way to do it is to tape a amount of polybutylene tubing into a wet/dry vacuum hose and vacuum out the scale. Scale and internal corrosion can also damage the lining, however if the tank is damaged enough to be leaking from the bottom or a seam, you need a new water heater.

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