Water Heater Repair: What Can Cause A Water Heater To Leak? | Arlington, TX
Water heaters are some of the most important appliances found in Arlington, TX homes. The appliances help with ensuring that homes have a constant supply of hot water for cleaning, cooking, drinking, and washing. Therefore, if your water heater is broken, it can cause serious inconveniences in your house. Unfortunately, there are several problems that can affect water heaters and make them ineffective or even dangerous. Leaks are some of the most common water heater issues that homeowners in Arlington, TX, face. Water heater leaks can damage your home’s walls and floor and even affect the structural integrity of your home. Leaking hot water can also be dangerous in the sense that it can hurt people and even pets. Therefore, it is imperative for you to stay in touch with a reliable water heater repair expert you can call as soon as you notice that your water heater is leaking. But why exactly would a water heater leak? Below are some common causes of water heater leaks.
An Aging Water Heater Tank
Although water heaters are quite durable appliances, they are not designed to last forever. Indeed, the average lifespan of a water heater tank is 10 to 15 years. Therefore, if your water heater has been serving you for more than a decade, you can expect its tank to develop some problems, including leaks. Your water heater’s tank is most likely made of steel. Although steel is one of the toughest materials in the world, it is susceptible to rust. Rust can eat away some parts of your water heater tank and eventually cause leaks. If this is the case, your water heater repair service will help you repair the water tank or advise you to replace your entire water heater, depending on the extent of the rust.
Faulty Pressure Relief Valve
The release valve is one of the most important safety features of your water heater. Its job is to regulate pressure in your water heater. If this valve is broken, the pressure inside your water heater will increase, and therefore, hot water will leak through any available cracks. If the issue is not fixed immediately, your water heater can even burst and put your family at the risk of sustaining serious injuries. In some cases, the relief valve itself can leak from being loose. Whatever the issue might be, you need a professional water heater service to help you with diagnosis and repairs. If the relief valve is loose, your water heater expert will simply solve the issue by tightening it. On the other hand, if the pressure relief valve is broken, then your water heater service will have to replace the dilapidated valve with a new one.
Accumulation of Sediments
Of course, the water coming into your home is not 100% pure. It contains some minerals and sediments that will settle at the bottom of your water heater tank. If you fail to get your water heater drained regularly, these sediments will lead to popping or cracking sounds as they break and collide with the sides of your water heater tank. Unfortunately, if nothing is done about it, your water heater tank will eventually develop cracks and start leaking. To prevent such an eventuality, it is imperative for you to ensure that you get a professional water heater repair service to maintain your water heater on a regular basis. Your water heater repair service will ensure that the water heater is drained before the accumulation of sediments can lead to serious problems.
Faulty Inlet and Outlet Connections
The inlet connection allows cold water into your house while the outlet connection is meant to supply your home with hot water. When these connections are faulty, your water heater can leak and lead to all the problems associated with a leaking water heater. The good news is that your water heater repair service can simply fix the issue by simply replacing or repairing the faulty fixtures.
Broken Drain Valve
Drain valves are designed to help water heater repair experts to drain water heaters during repairs, routine maintenance, or replacements. For instance, if your water heater tank has a lot of sediments accumulated at the bottom, your plumber will use the drain valve to drain the tank and remove the sediments. Unfortunately, if this valve is broken or loose, it can leak and make it necessary for you to call a professional water heater repair service. Professionals have the necessary experience and technical know-how to assess the issue and decide on what needs to be done. If the valve is loose, your plumber will simply tighten it. However, if it is broken, your plumber will have to replace it.
Non-Existent Anode Rod
The Anode rod usually attracts rusting substances in your water heater to prevent them from damaging your water heater. As the rod attracts more and more corrosion in your water heater tank, it can become non-existent and consequently leave a hole in its place. Unfortunately, this can cause hot water to leak from your water heater. The good news is that if you call your water heater repair expert as soon you notice the leak, the issue can simply be solved by replacing the anode rod.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that there are many issues that can cause your water heater to leak. But whatever the cause might be, water heater leaks can lead to problems that can be extremely costly. For instance, in addition to increasing your water bills, water leaks can damage your property and make your house less healthy by encouraging the growth of molds. Therefore, you need to ensure that water heater leaks are fixed as soon as they have been noticed. If you are looking for a reliable plumber qualified to offer water heater repair services in Arlington, TX, Tioga Plumbing & Electric is an excellent choice. Feel free to contact us today for more information about our company and the services we offer.
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