My water heater is leaking from underneath. I was advised to turn the heater off. There was a switch I turned clockwise just above the temperature stat. Then I shut of the gas line. I did that around 11am, and until now my water heater is still leaking!! Some of you guys advised that I should turn the water off from the whole house for it to stop, but thats too much to ask since I need to use water for everyday stuff ALA shower. There isnt any valves on my heater other than the one where u can stick a hose to, but no other valves on it to shut any water from coming in the heater. I have no idea how many gallons my heater can take, but assuming its around 100 gallons, would that take over 9+ hours to fully drain? Because thats how long i've been waiting and its still leaking . i'm tired of going to my garage to sweep off the extra puddles that form due to the leak. Help help help!
2007-03-16 15:50:56 · 13 answers · asked by Brian I 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Time to get a new water heater as it sounds like the liner is finally rusted through...and have them install a shut off valve when they install it so you won't have to go through this grief again.
2007-03-16 16:01:29 · answer #1 · answered by Shaula 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi Brian, I very much doubt your water heater holds more than 40 gallons, maybe less. But that is a lot of water and if the leak is small it will take a long time to empty. It sounds like you have a hole in the bottom of the tank and if that is the case you are in for a new unit. You can empty the tank by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve and opening the valve. Run the hose out of the garage to the lawn or gutter.
It is good you turned off the gas because a leaking tank can douse the pilot and older tanks might keep feeding gas. I know most of the newer ones have a safty. Anyway, there should be a shut off from the water line into the tank. The water comes in the TOP of the tank. In most states the law requires a shut off valve. If there is not one you need a plumber. Actually, you need a plumber anyway, so, unless you are renting, call someone, if only to get the water shut off to the tank. If you are renting, call your landlord.
Don't mess around with this, it is not something you can fix yourself. And you are into a weekend so you will paying a premium. Good luck on the cold showers
2007-03-16 16:12:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By code, there has to be a shutoff at the water heater. If you don't have one, you can get one installed when you replace the unit. Best advice is to hook a hose up to the drain and empty the water into the yard. The water heater is shot and you'll need a new one.
Make sure you get one with an 'anodizing rod'. You may have one in the present heater, but no one ever replaces them. It's a rod that screws into the top of the heater made from zinc (I think) that attracts the corrosive particles in the water. The rod corrodes before the steel lining, extending the life of the heater. It must be replaced or cleaned of calcium in order to protect the heater. You have to check it every couple of years to make sure it's not corroded away or covered in lime scale. Doing this regularly will extend the life of your NEW heater almost indefinitely. The average life expectancy of a water heater is 7-10 years. You can double that with regular maintenance.
2007-03-16 16:09:53 · answer #3 · answered by normobrian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't stop the water going into the heater you can't stop the water coming out either. As long as the water is on to the heater it is under constant pressure and will not stop leaking. Since you do not have hot water as it is, I suggest turning the water to the house off. Fill some jugs and maybe the bathtub so you can fill a bucket and flush the toilet temporarily. If you really need to shower turn the water on to do that and then turn it off when finished.
Replace the heater asap.
2007-03-16 17:40:14 · answer #4 · answered by Brian M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoever told you to shut off the water for the whole house was right. Water will keep running into the tank as long as it is connected. A plumber can install a shut off valve for the next water heater you get to replace this one. That's usually the best option when they start leaking from the bottom.
2007-03-16 16:15:23 · answer #5 · answered by BlueJay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a water heater starts leaking from the bottom, there is no fix. It has to be replaced. 40-50 gallon gas hot water heaters are the most common sizes. If you have 4-5 people in your house there is no need to go larger than a 50 gallon gas.
2007-03-16 16:06:58 · answer #6 · answered by David C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most water heaters have a place to drain them at. That might be the valve you're talking about that you could stick a hose to. I think you should just drain the thing and get a new one.
That or duct tape. Duct tape fixes everything.
Seriously though, if you can locate the leak, you can plug it. Get water proof caulking and just caulk the sucker. You can get the stuff at any place that sells plumbing supplies.
If its leaking at a place near the electrical bits or wires, or in a place that you can't caulk, for god's sake drain it and get a new one. Or a used one, although a used one might leak after a short time, since leaking is what most people throw their water heaters out for. That or electrical frying. Or gas leaks.
All else fails, call a friendly neighborhood plumber.
**EDIT: Forgot to mention, caulking would be a temporary patch at best. Personal opinion is to get a new heater.
2007-03-16 16:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by Evan B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
time to replace your water heater due to the sediment rusting out the bottom of your water heater as for shuting it off look for a valve on your cold water supply to your heater and look for a drain at the bottom of the water heater . and for gallons it should have a stamp near the water heater gas regulator when purchase a new on get a self cleaning water heater and also install a full-port ball valve on the cold supply before the water heater inlet .but check with your local city or county if you need for a permit
2007-03-16 16:11:38 · answer #8 · answered by Frank F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The last time our water heater was leaking from the bottom, we had to get a new one. I think this is the only thing you can do. I remember that as soon as I discovered it was leaking, I told my husband and he said right away we needed a new one. I think the old one was about ten or fifteen years old.
2007-03-16 15:57:26 · answer #9 · answered by Ceci 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a new water heater. You can drain it with a hose to stop the leakage and install it, if you are handy, or you can have the new water heater installed and the old hauled away by whomever you buy from..
2007-03-16 15:59:25 · answer #10 · answered by DrB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋