Hot Water Heater Leaking From Bottom How Long Will It Last

A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan.

Hot water heater leaking from bottom how long will it last.

A leaking water heater doesn t mean that it needs replacing but you will want to fix any leaks as soon as possible. Even a small amount of water can cause a huge amount of damage so it s important to asses the situation as soon as possible. Water heaters can last a long time but even the best ones can leak. Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage.

Most experts recommend water heater replacement by the tenth year. A leaking drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping either out of the drain opening or around the valve itself. How to prevent water heater leaking from the bottom. While it s hard to put an exact lifespan to your water heater nothing lasts forever.

Water heater tanks won t last forever. For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or. If you have been using the same water heater for more than ten years then the time may soon be up. First turn off the water heater.

Flushing the sediment from your tank and replacing the anode rod as needed will help keep your tank healthy but time will eventually take its toll. It doesn t matter if everything in the basement is junk you still have to deal with several hundred gallons to clean up and dry out. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it but that really is not recommended. The average life span of a water heater is 8 to 12 years.

Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out. You can check the serial number on the heater to confirm the year of manufacture. 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. Once your water heater has been sitting for a few hours check to see if you still have a leak or any condensation present on the outside of your unit.

To fix this problem start by shutting down the power or the gas supply to your unit and let it just sit anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are. It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking. If your water heater is in a location that will cause damage to your home you should strongly consider replacing it after 10 years or before if any of the following symptoms occur.

You ll come home to a water heater with the bottom joint split completely so water has been pouring out at whatever rate the pipe can supply for the last 14 hours.