Hot Water Heater Leaking From Bottom Access Panel

For owners of an electric water heater turn the breaker off on your main electrical panel.

Hot water heater leaking from bottom access panel.

The first places to check if it appears that you have a leak from the bottom of your water heater are the drain valve and temperature pressure relief valve t p valve. Carpeting must be protected by a metal or wood panel beneath do not assume the water heater is leaking until there has been through the access door of the water heater. Use a wrench to grab hold of the t p valve and turn it counter clockwise until the valve is loose. A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue.

By water leaking from the water heater pressure relief valve a circuit breaker or fuse block in the service panel or a turn the electrical supply to the water heater off. Water heater leaking from access panel. Your elements have seals so if it s leaking from the thermostats you have a bad seal. After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely.

Instruction manual for residential gas water heaters. Check the drain valve. Attach one end of a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of your tank and stick the other end in a safe place to. Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are not always the culprits.

Before you try to find the leak you should turn off the power to your water heater. The most likely scenario in this case is that sediment has built up and corroded the bottom of the tank causing a serious problem and the need for an entirely new water heater. Water leaking from a valve may run down the sides of the tank giving you the impression that the leak is coming from the bottom but it s really originating from the top or sides. Below is a list of the four most probable causes of a leak in your water heater.

Both thermostats should be set the same to spec of 120degrees which will say on upper and lower when panels are. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you. It s not necessary to drain it completely only so that the water inside the tank is lower. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank the tank itself may be cracked which means it will need to be replaced.

Remove the access door s and insulation pad s. The leak may actually be at the top of the water heater and simply running down through the body of the heater before escaping at a lower level. Open a hot water faucet. 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.

Turn off the power or your gas supply to your hot water heater in addition to closing the inlet valve on the top of your. This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve. Drain the hot water tank.