Water Heater Repair: Why Could Your Water Heater Leak? | Cibolo, TX
Whenever the water heater at your Cibolo, TX home begins leaking, it has serious repercussions. If the leaks go unnoticed for long, your walls, floors, precious artifacts, and possessions might get damaged. Hence, you should call a water heater repair professional to inspect the unit and repair it fast. Remember, water heater leaks release hot water into your home. Hence, you lose in terms of energy and water utility expenses. Though some water heater leaks are easily identifiable, some might go unnoticed for a long time. Hence, you should hire a professional for routine water heater inspection and maintenance.
A water heater is both an expensive and dangerous plumbing appliance. Hence, you shouldn’t try DIY fixes whenever you notice a leak. Instead, you should call a plumber to have the unit fixed properly. Remember, DIY water heater fixes might void the warranty. Furthermore, if the appliance springs leakage at certain points, they can pose a significant danger. But why do water heater leaks arise? What causes them? Read on to uncover some of the main causes.
Age Of the Water Heater Tank
How old is your water heater tank? Conventional water heaters over 12 years might spring leaks more often than newer ones and for a normal reason. As the water heater gets old, some of its parts wear out or become weak. This means that it might develop cracks, resulting in frequent leakages. Aging water heaters might also be corroded, weakening them even further.
The corrosion allows water to seep outside through hairline cracks and pinholes. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way of saving an old water heater tank other than having a water heater repair service provider replace it. While at it, ask them about the tankless water heater. It is durable, energy-efficient, and more modern.
Drain Valves
Homeowners and plumbers use a drain valve to empty or drain the water from the water heater during a water heater repair, maintenance, or replacement visit. Homeowners also may use the drainage valve whenever they want to clean the water heater tank. Over time, the valve becomes loose, allowing the water to seep through.
However, if there are leaks at the base of a drain valve, that is a sign that it isn’t watertight. You may be forced to have a plumber replace the existing drain valve with a new one whenever this happens. Though some DIYers might tell you that you can replace the drain valve yourself, never make that mistake. Instead, let a professional replace the unit and perform other inspections on your unit. Remember, more than one part might be causing the leak.
High Water Pressure
Like any other plumbing fixture, a water heater deals with water pressure. When the water is heated within the unit, water pressure builds up because the steam produced fills up the space. If this steam doesn’t have a place to go, the pressure increases. If there is any developing hairline crack, the high pressure worsens, resulting in a leakage to relieve the water pressure within the tank. If the water temperature is too high, water enters the water heater at high pressure, which results in a buildup of pressure within the tank. It is always important to have a water heater repair professional regularly inspect and maintain the unit.
A Faulty T&P (Temperature and Pressure) Relief Valve
The water heater might also leak because of a faulty temperature and pressure relief valve. Also called a T& P valve, this critical water heater component helps relieve the pressure within the water heater tank. If the valve is faulty or malfunctioning, it increases the pressure inside the tank.
Sometimes, the T&P relief valve is just loose and only needs tightening. But if it is faulty, you will have to hire a water heater repair professional to replace the T&P valve. Again, do not try repairing the valve yourself because you might suffer severe burns and other injuries. The professional plumbers in Cibolo, TX, are trained and experienced in handling the unit.
Internal Tank
The conventional water heaters utilize two shells to finish their processes. The outer shell offers insulation to the inner shell that holds water. A fine metal layer covers the two shells. Unfortunately, the water heater leaks in the inner shells are hard to notice. However, they arise because of deterioration or aging of the water heater. Since you cannot see the leak from the outer side, it is recommended that you have a water heater repair service provider come for routine inspections and maintenance of the water heater.
Accumulation of Sediments
Do you receive hard water at your Cibolo, TX home? Hard water contains dissolved minerals of calcium and magnesium. These particular minerals have a high affinity for oxygen, making them great contributors to corrosion. If the mineral and debris settle in the water heater, they might affect its efficiency in heating the water.
For this reason, it is recommended that you have a water heater repair professional flush the water heater once every year. Otherwise, the sediments will begin to corrode the tank, making it weaker to the extent that it cannot hold the internal pressure produced by the hot water. It means that your water heater might explode, leave alone leak.
Depleted Anode Rod
An anode rod is another essential component of your water heater tank. It sacrifices itself to protect the tank from corrosion. The anode rod attracts the corrosive materials to ensure that corrosion agents don’t eat up the water heater tank. Therefore, the rod will be depleted or used up after some time because of the corrosion, leaving some holes where water might leak out from the water heater.
Hence, ensure that you enlist a water heater repair service provider to replace the anode rod every 2-3 years. If you have a maintenance plan with a plumber, they can predict when the rod will remain active. Remember, failing to replace the anode rod means the tank will begin corroding from rust.
Expert Water Heater Services
You should have a plumber inspect a water heater after some time to ensure that all its components are in order. Otherwise, the unit might malfunction or even spring leaks, resulting in inconveniences at your home, not forgetting the high energy and water utility bills. Do you want a water heater repair service? Call us at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio today.
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