Electric Water Heater Leaking From Bottom Element

Leaks from water heater tanks can be due to loose heating elements or to tank corrosion.

Electric water heater leaking from bottom element.

If you notice a leak from the bottom of your tank there s a good chance that the tank itself is the cause. Richie255 ny my eight year old 50 gal. A reason why a water heater may leak from the bottom element is because it no longer drains properly. Another reason your hot water heater may be leaking from bottom could be due to an internal leak.

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. There is rust and corrosion only in that location and the insulation covering the element is wet. It s never a good sign when you go into the basement and notice a puddle of water around your water heater. Water heater leak at element housing author.

The heating elements on your water heater can be accessed found behind access covers on the side of the water tank. Turn off the power and water supply to the water heater then drain the tank completely to stop the leaking. Over time the drain valve could slowly begin to leak water. Water heater has a small leak coming from the area around the lower heating element.

The contractor will do a test to see if your water heater s drain valve is clogged up. Electric water heater leaking. If water is leaking from the bottom of your electric water heater the problem may be the heater element gasket. Turn off power to the heater before beginning this repair.

When the tank is empty place the water heater socket on your socket wrench place the socket over the outer part of the element that fits the socket and twist to the left. This is caused by the buildup of sediments that settled on the drain valve. Overtime if the tank is not regularly flushed out this build up can cause the tank to rust and spring a leak. In most cases a build up of sediment is the leading cause of this.

Shut off the valve on the cold water supply pipe and then use the drain valve on the bottom of the water heater to empty the tank. Inspect the elements for looseness and if necessary tighten them with an element wrench. A corroded tank cannot be repaired and must be replaced. 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.

Water leaking from the bottom an electric water heater that s leaking from the bottom is typically because of normal condensation a leaking electric heating element gasket or a small amount of water being expelled through the overflow pipe because the t p valve is opening to release excess pressure in the tank. The average life span of a water heater is 8 to 12 years. Either tightening the drain valve with a wrench could help stop the leak but if not replacing the drain valve might be necessary.