Saturday, September 21, 2013

Effective Water Heater Leaking Tips

By Brian Winters


Do not let water leaks to affect other areas of your tank. You can avoid this from happening by performing regular water heater maintenance. It can be easy to ignore your heating system since it is placed inside a room that no one really bothers to enter in. To avoid staining your floors and walls, wipe puddles of water near your unit as soon as you notice it. If not, molds and mildew can affect the quality of your air inside your house. This is dangerous as it can cause serious health complications, especially for those who have respiratory problems. Prevent the growth of molds right away to avoid costly mold remediation services. Ask help from a specialist if you are not sure how to stop the leaks immediately.

Believe it or not, water puddles can be dangerous, especially if you have an electric water heater. You have to take safety into account every time you perform water heater repairs. Avoid fatal accidents and mishaps by turning off the circuit breaker or fuse before working with your unit. Prevent major flooding by shutting off your water supply beforehand. You don't want to spend your time mopping your floor for hours.

Avoid scalding yourself by draining your tank before carrying out the repairs. Experts recommend turning off your unit the night before your drain it to prevent scalding incidents. It is helpful to attach a standard hose to the drain valve and place the other end to a floor drain, gutter or large bucket. Doing this helps you inspect the insides of your tank easily.

Water can leak easily every time your T&P valve releases pressure inside your tank. You can stop this from happening by lowering the water temperature immediately. Do not skip this step as too much pressure can cause your tank to overheat or explode.

Water heater leaks usually start at your T&P valve. This relief valve is responsible for releasing excessive air inside your tank. You have to make sure this is working all the time since too much pressure can cause your tank to overheat and eventually blow up. Test it by placing a bucket under the overflow pipe before opening the valve. Water should stop flowing out once the lever is released. If not, you need to replace it right away. Unscrew it using a wrench and make sure to install it properly. A soldered T&P valve should be cut off with enough pipes left over, making way for the new relief valve. Do not just plug it in as it will nullify all the warranties on your unit, making it a dangerous appliance at the same time.

Having loose pipe fittings can cause water to leak instantly. You can recognize leakages if you see rust stains all over your pipes. You can simply adjust and tighten it with a wrench or replace them once badly damaged. Do not over tighten the pipes to avoid further damage. Wrap a Teflon tape around the threading to stop water from leaking.

Not addressing leaks on time causes rust and corrosion to eat away your tank. When you see holes right at the bottom of your tank, you have no choice but to buy a replacement water heater. Some may think patching the holes would solve the problem. However, doing this will only affect the heating efficiency of your unit. Start looking for a new heating system to lessen your household's energy consumption.

It is wise not to buy a water heater haphazardly without properly inspecting your unit. There are times when water heater issues can be fixed by performing simple repairs. Avoid replacing your heating system unexpectedly by recognizing the signs of damage as soon as possible. You can always consult a specialist whenever it's time for you to select a new unit. Ask for advice and guidelines on what kind of water heater will suit your hot-water needs.




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