Gas Water Heater Leaking From Bottom

There should be a dedicated gas shut off valve on the gas line leading to the tank.

Gas water heater leaking from bottom.

First turn off the water heater. All water heaters have a drain near the bottom of the unit so that the tank can be emptied before removal or during routine cleaning of the tank itself. A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan. A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue.

In most cases a build up of sediment is the leading cause of this. Most water heaters last between 10 to 13 years and if one is leaking from the bottom of the tank inside the burner compartment old age might be the cause. See below for a visual illustration of a gas water. This is caused by years of sediment building up in the bottom of the water heater tank.

Eventually the bottom of the tank will rust through and begin to leak. For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or. How to prevent water heater leaking from the bottom. Check to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise.

After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely. Set the dial to pilot or off. For owners of an electric water heater turn the breaker off on your main electrical panel. Before you try to find the leak you should turn off the power to your water heater.

Replace the water heater if the leak is at the bottom of the tank. If you have a leaking gas powered water heater we recommend that you shut off the gas supply before working with the tank. If you have a gas water heater look for the on off dial located on the gas regulator on the side of your water heater. If during your sleuthing you determined the leak wasn t coming from any of the above spots the trouble is at the bottom of.

Overtime if the tank is not regularly flushed out this build up can cause the tank to rust and spring a leak. Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out. Another reason your hot water heater may be leaking from bottom could be due to an internal leak. Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage.

It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking. This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve.