Water Heater Leaking From Top
Water heater leaking from top. Leaks cause a lot of worries, and rightly so too! Property damage is inevitable when water leaks into your home.
For example, leaking water could seep into the bathroom and kitchen (among other places), increasing your water bills because of the extra usage as it has to constantly be pumped out.
Not only is this expensive and a massive waste of resources, but it’s damaging to our environment as well! The good news is that when you catch your leak quickly, it’s almost always a manageable scenario.
Water will take the easiest path of resistance, which means any water coming from the top will travel down the side of the tank, causing electrical shorts, which causes your toilet to not work and other unwanted problems.
That’s why you should call a plumber as soon as you see a problem. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons why you need plumbing help right away!
Water Heater Leaking From Top
A very common cause of a hot water heater leaking from the top is because of a busted temperature-pressure relief valve.
It has nothing to do with how often you shower, it’ll give out regardless of use.
You may have to replace it or if it’s something minor that’s causing this you may be able to fix it without spending too much money by checking the heat and pressure inside the tank.
1. Pipes Loose OR Corrosion In pipes
Inspect the top and bottom fittings to ensure no water leaks. Check the pipe connections at any point to make sure they are tightly tightened into place.
If there is still a leak, suspect that perhaps a connection point needs tightening by using a wrench as required, or simply use duct tape around all connections temporarily until making more permanent modifications.
Dielectric nipples’ inability to function due to corrosion is not uncommon. For example, water heater malfunctions are often a result of these nipples failing.
As you know, replacing them isn’t always easy, especially if they corroded onto the threads of your tank fittings.
Worse yet, they must be returned carefully since over-tightening these nipples can cause problems that might lead to the need for complete replacement of the water heater.
2. Inlet OR Outlet Valve NOT Working
When water pools on the top of your unit, it’s an indication that your inlet or inlet pipe is leaking.
If you get lucky, it will just be loose-fitting around the pipe, which means all you have to do is tighten or replace the nuts connecting to the handle.
If you tighten a nut and find that the valve is still leaking, it’s probable that the valve itself has now malfunctioned completely and then needs to be replaced.
3. Fault In Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve
The temperature and pressure relief valve are either located on the side of the tank or on the top. Scrutinize the location.
If you notice water seeping from the threads, you should consider removing it to see if this is a problem.
If your tank or plumbing is newer, there may not be any need to replace anything just yet, although you’ll be advised to wrap the threads of your T&P valve in Teflon tape and secure it back onto your unit.
Step By Step Guide on How To Replace t&p Valve
- First of all, empty the tank completely.
- Open the hot tap water to allow air to enter the tank.
- Use channel locks to loosen the valve and remove it.
- Check out the area where the valve was placed and make sure there are no signs of corrosion.
- If there isn’t any rust, wrap up the plumber’s tape on threads of the new valve and screw it back to its place.
Conclusion
Water heater leaking from top. Having a working water heater is a cornerstone of home comfort. So, if you notice any leaks when looking at your water heater, don’t panic.
The most common causes of this problem are the temperature & pressure relief valve and the cold water inlet. If they’re faulty, they can cause leaks to develop on the top or side of your water heater.
We hope this article has helped you track down the issue. Thank you for your time. Have a nice day!
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