Why Is Water Heater Leaking From Top

Is the leak on the top of the water heater if so continue on to the section below labeled my water heater is leaking from the top.

Why is water heater leaking from top. Find the cold water inlet valve. If your hot water heater is designed like this then this could be a reason your water heater is leaking at the top. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you. The most likely scenario in this case is that sediment has built up and corroded the bottom of the tank causing a serious problem and the need for an entirely new water heater.

Pressure relief valves are located at the top of the water heater. If the hole is large and water begins to pool underneath the water heater than you need to call a plumber. A hot water heater merely pushes the heated water through your pipes to your faucet. Water leaking from your water heater is a bad sign regardless of where the leak is coming from.

The water heater nipples on top of the water heater which connect the water heater to the cold water inlet pipe and to the hot water exit pipe is another common place to find leaks. The threads are the thinnest part on the nipple and it is not unusual to find leaks in them. Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are. However some models have these valves located on the very top of the machine.

Leaks from the top of the water heater are usually caused by one of the three connections at the top as shown in the diagram below. A water heater leaking from the top is preferable to one from the bottom. So if you re water heater is leaking a lot of water from the top then you have a serious problem. If your valve is located on the top of your water heater like in the picture below check to see where it s leaking from.

In most cases when a water heater is leaking from the top it s usually pretty easy to pinpoint to leak. It s the job of the control valve to hold back this water until you re ready to turn it on. Luckily we re here to help. Two places it may be leaking from include.

It s on the cold water pipe which supplies water to the water heater. A water heater leaking from top floors in your house via the faucets can be hard to diagnose at first. 1 connection that generates hot water 2 connection that generates cold water 3 connection that releases pressure. On the other hand water runs downhill so failure to fix the leak can lead to more serious problems including electrical shorts additional damage to the water heater and the possibility of water damage such as ruined carpeting or drywall.

Depending on your water heater model this valve could be located on the side or the top of your water heater. Consult our water heater service page for more information. The valve is usually a lever or a knob type valve.