Water Heater Tank Leaking From Top

The most common leaky areas at the top of a water heater include.

Water heater tank leaking from top.

Since water heater tanks are required to be elevated off the ground and are tall to begin with leaks in this location can be hard to notice right away. The cold water inlet allows water to enter the tank to be heated. Why is my hot water heater leaking from the top. A drip from above can easily leak down on top of the water heater and even work its way down the insulation and make it look like the leak is coming from the tank itself.

Another solution to solve the problem of your hot water tank leaking from top. First you ll want to turn the water back on and watch carefully for where the water is coming from. Check the plumbing pipes above the water heater using a stepladder if necessary. It s often after water begins to drip down the side of the tank that we spot the problem.

Dry the top of the water heater where the cold water inlet enters the tank. If your hot water heater is designed like this then this could be a reason your water heater is leaking at the top. An expansion tank is a small tank that is typically located on or above the top of the water heater. However some models have these valves located on the very top of the machine.

In this episode of repair and replace vance shows how to troubleshoot leaks in a gas or electric water heater. A water heater leaking from the top is preferable to one from the bottom. This secondary safety device is designed to absorb excess hot water. 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.

Not all water heaters have an expansion tank but if yours does it s function is similar to that of the t p relief valve. Why is my water heater leaking. This will remove any air within the water heater tank eliminating any chance of damage to the heating elements. Many water heater tanks have their temperature and pressure relieve valve positioned on the side of the tank.

The first place to check is the plumbing pipes above the water heater. Once the power is off to the water heater locate the cold water inlet. If you re not sure what the cause of the water heater leak is or you don t have a lot of experience with hot water heater leaking from top our bay area benjamin franklin plumbing team is more than happy to assist you.