You have just walked into your garage to grab a few tools when all of a sudden, you feel your foot turn cold and wet. You look down and see a puddle of water that has pooled around the base of your water heater due to a leak. While a leak is never a good sign, your first though is to gauge the situation and find out if it is a problem that is serious enough to warrant calling for repairs. Is this little more than a minor nuisance, or do you need to bite the bullet and replace your water heater?
First of all, any leak needs to be fixed – and quick. Even a small of water can cause serious damage to your floors, sub-floors, and walls, as well as lead to much more serious health concerns if mold and mildew should develop. Likewise, water heater leaks only worsen with time, making it crucial that you move quickly to address the problem. Whether you need to fully replace your unit, however, is a much different proposition.
To properly diagnose the problem and find a suitable solution, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the water dripping, spraying, or flooding? – If water is spraying from your pipes near the water heater or flooding from the heater itself, water pressure in your pipes or the tank is likely involved. If this is the case, immediately turn off the flow of water to the entire house and call a plumber to protect yourself against serious water damage to your home. Drips, on the other hand, are less serious and usually involve minor fixes such as tightening a connection or replacing a valve.
- Where is the water coming from? – Leaks from valves or connections are usually simple to fix, whereas leaks from your tank oftentimes require a full replacement. Tank leaks are usually caused by a gradual buildup of sediment at the bottom of your tank which can eat away at the tank’s inner lining.
- Is your heater more than 10 years old? – Generally speaking, water heaters will begin to exhibit signs of failure, including leaking, about 10 years into their lifespan. The constant heating, cooling, and reheating of your tank over time will place a considerable amount of stress on your tank’s inner glass lining, creating stress fractures which cannot be repaired. If your heater is more than 10 years old and is leaking on a pretty regular basis, it is likely time to replace.
Water Heater Failing? Call Plumbing Solutions, LLC
Whether your water heater is flooding profusely or is exhibiting early signs of failure, the Columbia plumbers at Plumbing Solutions, LLC can provide the quality workmanship you need to restore hot water to your home. From water heater repair to full unit replacement, our trained technicians are equipped with the know-how to address your plumbing needs promptly and at a price you’ll love. Best of all, with all of our work backed by a satisfaction guarantee, you can choose us with confidence knowing that the job will be done correctly the first time around – no exceptions.
Schedule a service online or call (803) 618-4163 today to get started.