Hot Water Tank is Leaking? Top 5 Fixes | Repair and Replace

Why is my water heater leaking? In this episode of Repair and Replace, Vance shows how to troubleshoot leaks in a gas or electric water heater. If you notice water pooling at the base of your water heater then its best to check each connection. In many cases the leak might be coming from the drain valve or relief valve which is an easy fix.

Simple Fixes:

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00:00 Intro
00:31 Relief Valve
01:45 Drain Valve
02:25 Pipe Connections
02:53 Inner Tank
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AMRE Supply provides homeowners, service contractors, and property management with the parts and knowledge needed to get the best performance out of any property. Stocking the largest selection of appliance parts, heating, plumbing, lighting, and janitorial supplies, AMRE ships almost anywhere in Canada within 24 - 48 hours. Expert help is available online, over the phone or in person at one of the many locations across Canada.

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[AmreSupply]

Another source of a leak can be the heating elements in electric water heaters. We haven't filmed the repair videos for electric water heaters yet but these repairs will be added in a future series update.

[planetguam]

Why isn't this video on the top list? This the most helpful, concise video. Wasted time watching three other videos before I got to this. Thanks and much appreciated.

[mmp]

My heater is leaking. This video was very informative. Thank you

[teru]

I'm really happy the hot water tank is under the house and not in the storage closet anymore.

[flyfishing]

most reliable and accurate information provider and channel for my home appliance repair . Saved.

[takfaazul]

Very instructive. Well illustrated. Thanks!

[ronpvi]

Went to Home Depot for a new elec HWH. Being elderly and disabled I asked about installation. They wanted $579 for the HWH, $1187 install, and $150 for a permit??? I laughed and paid $79 for delivery. It took me longer to carefully muscle that HWH down the basement steps and up onto the 2' base than it did to hook up the water and power.

[Chicken_Godd___]

love your channel! i always feel like i great a proper understanding after watching your videos

[Harkie]

Thanks so much. I have a rheem water heater and called the support line where they were trying to guide me through finding the leak over the phone and it was no help. I opened the door same as you mentioned at the end of the video and found out it was rusted out. Rheem never even had me check!

[markfilkins]

My gas water heater is almost 30 years old, I have made some minor repairs over the years that have saved me a lot of money. The funny part about it is that, when I bought the water heater, I got the cheapest one I could find. I'm not recommending that you buy the cheapest water heater you can find, but they sure don't make them like they used to. I go to the metal recycle shop a occasionally and I see fairly new water heaters in the scrap pile, and it makes wonder, how many are actually bad?

[tadeuszbloch]

Fantastyczny program, Duza wiedza Gratuluje

[mattalford]

About to replace mine today. Tank started leaking. Didn't notice it for a while. Then it started putting out the pilot light. I know it was going to need replaced a few years ago when the pressure relief valve stuck open just enough to leak. Glad it stuck open lol.

[samoht]

Came to your video out of an emergency situation and can't thank you enough that we were able to hold off calling the plumber out after hours. Ps...We called one in during normal office hours and saved a bunch of cash.

[MeWantHoneycomb]

definitely the tank... ugh, what a bust. thanks for the tips.

[subaruamazon]

this is what i have. installed three in my life - 2 gas one electric so I have some experience. this one is gas. I replaced this one with my own hands due to Sandy in 2012. Basement in NJ. all is copper. sharkbite cold. sweated hot out. sharkbites cold are in great shape. for the hot out, I have the nipple, the copper threaded adapter, 4 inches of 3/4 pipe straight up and a 90. the seams of the 90 are leaking. green and corroded. after the 90, i have 1 foot of 3/4 and another 90. again 90 green corrosion and leaking. must be due to moisture in basement and 12 years lol. I want to hacksaw the pipe before the first 90. I want to sandpaper the 4 inch piece due to deposits and sharkbite 90. after want to use use pipe and sharkbite 90 if i need to use a small sharkbite connector after the second 90 so be it. how do i deal with the hot water? good shut off on the cold water side. good ball valve. can shut building off if need to. I am comfortable with the the repair but not with the hot water. How do i repair an active gas hot water heater? thank you.

[drpoundsign]

I flushed my tank last night (I'd been away for a few days, and had it set on "pilot" so the water wouldn't be Hot.) I temporarily turned on the relief valve at the time. I went downstairs this morning, and the pipe was dripping. It's still dripping tonight.

If it ain't Broke...

[DOLEWDREW]

Hi and much thanks for the useful info. The thing is with my tank, when I turn off the cold water inlet, the slow leak at the bottom stops and dries up in a couple hours but the insulation is damp . Would this mean that the possible rust is near the very top ? Is there anyway to adjust the water level ? This tank is not even 8 years old yet and the one before this was probably here and lasted trouble free for over 20 years !! 🤔😒 This really sucks !!!

[mebechatin]

My unit seems to be leaking around the drain valve thread/connection area. There is a plastic ring behind the drain valve and water is slowing dripping out of that and running down the side of the tank. I've tightened the valve but don't think it's helped. I've got a call into a plumber but wondering if I should first try draining the tank and replacing the drain valve to see if that fixes the problem.

[jjandkw]

Why is it that every video I can find skips the connections at the bottom of the control panel? My gas water heater has two lines there, one flexible and the other is rigid and much smaller. I don't know what they're for but one or both are leaking there. Is it just a matter of replacing the gaskets?

[BigBeezy]

you didnt tell me drain the water, now i got 50 gallons of water on my grandmas floor