The drain valve the spigot at the bottom of the tank that drains the water heater of sediment the water heater s tank the drain valve looks like this.
Hot water heater leaking from bottom spigot.
This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve.
A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue.
Worn out plastic some hot water tank drain valves are made of plastic.
Turn the water heater controls to the off position.
If the repair isn t successful you ll have water leaking into your house.
To check this loosen the screw that secures the handle on the drain valve faucet with.
Fixing a leaking drain valve.
You just need a plumber to replace the faulty drain valve.
Connect a garden hose to the spigot and run it to a floor drain or outside.
Below is a list of the four most probable causes of a leak in your water heater.
The leak may actually be at the top of the water heater and simply running down through the body of the heater before escaping at a lower level.
Often an electric water heater will leak at the drain valve if the washer inside the valve is worn or damaged.
If necessary connect another hose to.
While you can repair similar valves such as garden spigots it s not a good idea to attempt a repair on a water heater drain valve.
This is also a common culprit for leaks.
The first places to check if it appears that you have a leak from the bottom of your water heater are the drain valve and temperature pressure relief valve t p valve.
Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are not always the culprits.
Many manufacturers sell water heaters preset for 140.
Just make sure to use a new valve that matches the old one.
After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely.
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.
Over the years this plastic can become brittle and when the valve is used to empty the drain tank the plastic can crack which can cause a leak.
If the leak is coming from around the valve itself or out of the bottom of the pipe it could indicate that the water in the tank is too hot.
For an electric water heater unplug the power cord from the.
If the leak is here good news the repair is simple and relatively inexpensive.
Replacement drain valves are readily available and easy to install.
If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you.
Failing gasket plastic drain valves also use a rubber gasket that deteriorates over time.
In case there s water on the floor then the problem is probably from the t p relief valve.
How to shut off a water heater spigot leak 1.
