What happens when a water heater leaks?
A water heater leak sends water into the garage, closet or hallway around the tank, and a full tank failure can release 40 to 50 gallons at once and keep refilling. In the East Valley most water heaters sit in garages or interior closets, so a failure can reach finished rooms, cabinets and carpet within minutes.
What to do right now
- Shut off the cold-water supply at the valve above the tank, or the main water to the house.
- Turn off the heat source. For electric heaters, switch off the breaker. For gas heaters, turn the control to off.
- Keep clear of hot water. Water near the tank can be scalding.
- Move belongings stored around the heater, especially boxes and paper.
- Take photos of the tank, the leak point and the wet areas.
- Call a plumber to replace or repair the heater, and call us for the water.
Leak vs failure: signs to watch
Small leaks give warning signs before a tank fails:
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rust on the tank, fittings or the floor beneath it
- Water dripping from the temperature and pressure relief valve line
- Popping or rumbling sounds from sediment buildup
- Rusty or discolored hot water
A tank that's more than about ten years old and showing any of these signs is close to failure.
How we clean up water heater leaks
- Extract water from garage floors, closets and any carpet the water reached with emergency water removal equipment.
- Trace the spread under baseboards into neighboring rooms with moisture meters.
- Remove damaged materials, such as wet carpet pad, swollen particleboard cabinets or soaked boxes.
- Dry walls and flooring with dehumidifiers and air movers, checked daily. See structural drying.
- Repair drywall, baseboards and flooring after the new heater is in.
Garage vs interior installations
Garage water heaters usually cause less damage than closet installations. Garage floors are bare concrete and slope toward the door, so much of the water runs out. Interior closets sit next to finished rooms, and the water goes straight into drywall, carpet and cabinets. A drain pan with a line to the outside limits damage from small leaks, though it can't contain a full tank failure.