How to Stop a Leaking Water Heater?
Leaking water heater can cause a significant flood to your household, and it can be one of the most damaging and aggravating home disasters that you will experience in your lifetime. Apart from that, you will spill gallons of hot water onto your floor, which will cause other issues that require repairs and cleanup.
In case that you own storage boiler, you will be able to prevent leakage by turning off the water supply. That is just an instant fix because you will need something that will help you for the future moments.
Water heater leak is the common issue that you have to deal with, and in most cases, it happens due to old age or water heater malfunction.
What Causes A Leaking Water Heater?
The most popular type of water heating system in the world is by using conventional storage boilers that feature reservoirs of 20 to 120 gallons of water. They will heat your water by releasing hot water from the top as soon as you turn on the water tap.
At the same time, the boiler will replace the hot water that you are using with the cold one that enters the bottom of the tank. That way, you will ensure that tank is always full. In most cases, they operate by propane, natural gas, electricity or fuel oil.
Water leakage can happen due to numerous factors such as leaking connections, valves or the storage tank. The main causes can include:
- Leak from nearby plumbing connection or overhead
- Faulty temperature and pressure relief valve
- Temperature and pressure valve leak due to overheating, excessive pressure or clog
- If your storage has corrosion, the entire tank can leak due to it.
Avoid Leakage by Maintaining Your Boiler
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (click here to check their official website), you should conduct routine inspection and maintenance for storage water heaters so that you can prevent leakage and make sure that the unit works completely. This particular procedure includes:
- Checking the temperature and pressure valve twice a year
- Flushing the quart of water from the tank four times a year
- Inspecting anode rod every three to four years
How to Prevent Flooding With Water Shut Off valve
If you want to prevent the leaking water heater and enjoy all the way, the best thing that you can do is to install automatic water shut off valve. This particular thing will detect the presence of water beneath the heater and automatically turn off the water supply before it creates significant damage.
How Do They Work?
Automatic water shut off valve features a high-quality brass valve that is connected with moisture sensors and electric control box. The valve will install upstream of the water so that you can place it directly into the plumbing line.
You should place moisture sensors on the floor beneath the water heater so that you can detect leakage as soon as possible. If the valve detects the leak, the sensor will send a signal to control box, and it will immediately close the valve as well as a water supply. The valve will remain closed unit you manually reset it.
The best thing about it is that you will be able to hear the alarm as soon as this particular gadget detects a leak. It will let you know that it has been activated so that you can call a professional and do something about it.
Some advanced units can also connect with your home system and send you message or notification on the phone through email, text or phone alerts if you are not at home.
Conclusion:
The best way to prevent water heater leaks is by conducting routine maintenance to your water tank because that way you will clean it from sediments and enjoy in flawless operation. On the other hand, as the preventive measure, you can avoid water damage by installing automatic water shut off valve that will shut off the water supply as soon as it notices a leakage.
The solution is to call a professional plumber that will help you deal with faulty boiler so that you can enjoy in hot water all the way.