First things first, check the temperature gauge on your hot water heater and see if it is showing any signs of leakage. This is usually an indicator that the water heater has either split or is leaking. If you notice any condensation building up on the heating element, then there may be a leak somewhere within the tank. You can then use an icepick to poke a hole in the side of the tank in order to allow the cold air to escape and hopefully stop the leak before it does much more damage.
Once you have located the exact leak you are dealing with, remove the affected portion of the tank from the electric water heater. You can do this by lifting the tank out of the outlet and flipping the switch or lever to shut off the power to the tank. Make sure you keep yourself busy while you’re removing the water heater from the electric panel. After locating the valve, take some masking tape and cover the opening on the valve with masking tape. You may also want to wear rubber gloves in case the electrician accidentally shuts off the supply instead of the valve. Make sure that any exposed areas are covered so that you don’t get exposed to any harmful chemicals or vapors.
Once the tank area is covered and you have shut off the power to the electrical system, check the drain valve to ensure that it is not leaking. If the valve is leaking, then you will need to locate the drain valve and reseal it. Some models of heater tanks are designed to be seamless and leak proof. Leakage in these units could occur if the seams are not properly sealed. If this is the case, you will simply need to sew the seams together and re-seal.
Another thing you’ll need to be careful about is the constant topping off of your hot water heater. When this occurs, you are topping off the water supply and can potentially cause a large rise in temperature in your house. This will cause your heater to overheat and will force you to replace it much sooner than normal. To prevent this from happening, you should regularly run hot water test tests and replace a defective heater as soon as possible.
Leaks in pipes beneath sinks and bathtubs are a very common occurrence and pose a threat to your health. They can easily be repaired with ease, however, there is one important warning that you must heed when you are attempting repairs yourself. If you do not replace the entire damaged area with new piping, you risk causing damage to the area around the damaged pipe and may not even be able to detect the leak. A licensed plumber is equipped with the proper equipment to locate and fix any piping problem that he finds. Therefore, it’s always best to get a leak detection inspection from a professional.
It is also quite easy to tell when you have a faulty valve; the water valve will often either shut off at an inappropriate time or start leaking before it should. In addition, it is very easy to see when the pressure has become too high within a tank by seeing some black smoke coming from the top of the tank. If you notice either of these indicators, you should call a licensed plumber immediately to have a faulty valve fixed before a large-scale malfunction occurs.
Leaky pipes can cause a lot of frustration, especially when you are trying to get hot water into a cold house. Fortunately, there are many Leak Detection And Inspection professionals that can come to your rescue before too long. If you have a tank problem, or are noticing leaks around your hot water heater, contacting a local plumbing company or heating repair company is the best way to get the leak fixed before it gets out of control. A licensed professional will know exactly what to look for when inspecting and fixing your leaking tank or heating system so that you can rest assured that your hot water supply is still up and running, and the tank is properly sealed against leaks.
For more information on how we can assist you with installation, troubleshooting and repairs, contact us or call 0478 800 689