Apr 14

Written by: David Heffner
4/14/2010 7:56 PM 

An old friend from school messaged me today on Facebook about his leaking water heater. He lives in northern Virginia with his family, so a service call for me isn't an option. I did give him the following advice until a plumber can get to his house in the morning:

1. Turn the cold water valve off at the top of the water heater.
2. Turn the gas off to the heater (if electric, turn the breaker off at the breaker panel).
3. Drain the water heater if you can by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater and running this to the sump pit, floor drain or outside. 
   
4. If the drain valve doesn't work, use towels to direct the leaking water to a floor drain or sump pit.
   
5. When the new water heater is installed, ask that it be placed in an aluminum drain pan if at all possible.
   
6. Install a thermal expansion tank for the water heater if you don't already have one.
7. Install a 3/4 inch full port iron pipe ball valve at the bottom of the water heater with a brass pipe screwing into the tank and a hose thread adapter on the other side of the valve to attach a garden hose to if you don't have a water softener. Depending on the hardness of the water, the heater should be flushed 1-2 times per year to prevent lime and sediment from building up in the bottom of the water heater tank. Water heaters do not need to be flushed if you have a water softener.
   
8. Have the installation date for the water heater clearly marked on the tank for future reference. I use a Brother label maker for my water heater installations.
   

Copyright ©2010 David Heffner

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