Water Heater Repair: Causes Of Water Heater Leaks In Your Home | Conway, SC

2/8/2022

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The importance of a water heater in your Conway, SC home cannot be overstated. The vital plumbing appliance helps ensure that your home has a constant hot water supply for cooking, cleaning, showering, drinking, and dishwashing. Therefore, if the water heater is broken or malfunctions, it can result in severe inconveniences in your home.

Unfortunately, several issues may affect your water heater, making it dangerous and ineffective. Leaks are among the common problems with water heaters for many homeowners. A leaking water heater can damage the walls of your home, the floor, and even the structural integrity of your home’s foundation.

Leaking hot water is dangerous. It can burn a person or pet and create favorable conditions for the growth of fungi like molds. Therefore, it is imperative to stay in touch with a trustworthy water heater repair technician you may call if you notice leakages on your water heater. But what may make a water heater leak? Below are some of the causes of water heater leakages.

A Damaged Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve is among a water heater’s most critical safety features. It regulates the water heater pressure. If the pressure relief valve is broken/damaged, the pressure within the water heater might increase, making the hot water leak through the available cracks, if any. If you do not fix the problem immediately, the water heater may burst or place your life and that of your family at risk of sustaining severe burns and other injuries.

Sometimes, if the pressure relief valve is loose, it might leak. Regardless of the issue, you need to call a plumber to come and inspect the water heater. The water heater repair technician will assist you with repairs and diagnosis. If the heater has a loose relief valve, the plumber will resolve the issue by making it tight. If the relief valve is damaged/broken, the repair technician will replace it with a new pressure relief valve.

An Aging Heater Tank

Though a water heater has an incredible lifespan compared to other plumbing appliances, it isn’t designed to be forever lasting. Indeed a tankless water heater has an average lifespan of 20 years, while a conventional/ tank-based water heater has a lifetime of between 10-15 years.

Hence, if the water heater has served you for over ten years, it is expected to start developing some issues, including leaks. If you use a tank-type water heater, the tank is highly likely made of steel. While steel is among the most rigid materials globally, it has a weakness, susceptibility to corrosion.

Corrosion can eat away various parts of the water tank, eventually leaking. Suppose leaks in your water heater are because of aging and corrosion. In that case, the water heater repair technician will flush the water heater, repair it, and recommend replacing the water heater with a more modern tankless water heater depending on how extensive the tank has been damaged by corrosion. Tankless water heaters are more durable and energy-saving compared to conventional water heaters.

Broken Drain Valve

A water heater is designed to incorporate any scenario. A drain valve is designed to help the plumber drain the water heater when repairing, performing routine maintenance, or replacing the water heater. For example, suppose the water heater tank has a lot of accumulated sediments at its bottom. In that case, the water heater repair technician will drain the tank using the drain valve and then remove the sediments.

Unfortunately, if the drain valve is loose or broken, it starts leaking, making it vital to call a professional water heater repair technician. These professionals have the required experience and technical ability to examine the problem and resolve it. If the drain valve is loose, the plumber will tighten it to prevent leaks. However, if it is damaged, the plumber will replace it.

Accumulation of Sediments

The water entering your Conway, SC home is not in its purest form. It contains some sediments and minerals that may settle at the bottom of the water heater tank. If you do not flush and drain the water heater regularly, the deposits will cause cracking and popping sounds as they break and hit the walls of the water heater tank. If you do nothing about it, the water heater will develop fractures and cracks, making it leak.

To prevent this, ensure that you enlist the services of a professional water heater repair technician to inspect and maintain the water heater periodically. They will flush the water heater to remove the sediments before they cause other costly problems like water heater tank explosion that can place your family at risk of harm. Do not try flushing the water heater yourself unless you have extensive plumbing training because you might end up exacerbating the problem.

Non-Existent Anode Rod

The anode rod, or sacrificial anode, attracts the substances dissolved in the water that cause corrosion, preventing or safeguarding the water heater tank from rusting that can damage the water heater. As the anode rod increasingly attracts corrosion in the water heater tank, it may get depleted and non-existent, consequently leaving a hole where it was fitted. This can, unfortunately, make the hot water start leaking from the water heater. Fortunately, your water heater repair technician can resolve the issue by replacing the sacrificial anode rod.

Faulty Outlet and Inlet Connections

The inlet connection brings in cold water into your home while the outlet supplies hot water throughout your home. If the two connections are faulty, the water heater may start leaking and cause all the issues associated with its leaking. Fortunately, a call to your plumber can help resolve the problem. The water heater repair technician inspects your plumbing system for problems that may cause the water heater to leak. If they detect any problem, they take the necessary steps to repair or replace the faulty parts.

Water Heater Repair Services in Conway, SC

There are many causes of water heater leaks. Regardless of the reason, the water heater leaks may result in costly problems. For instance, leakages can make your water bills increase, cause property damage, and make your home less healthy by creating conditions favoring mold growth.

Hence, you must ensure water heater leaks are fixed promptly. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach can help address all water heater leakage problems. If you need water heater repair services at your home do not hesitate to call us.