All water heaters have a drain near the bottom of the unit so that the tank can be emptied before removal or during routine cleaning of the tank itself.
Why is my water heater leaking from the drain valve.
After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely.
When you see water coming out from the water heater release valve there are two most likely causes.
A leaking drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping either out of the drain opening or around the valve itself.
If the repair isn t successful you ll have water.
Your water heater s drain valve allows a plumber to flush your water heater that is drain it clean it and fill it back up.
Sometimes the valve gets bumped and becomes loose or the moisture is caused by something other than the drain valve.
If this is the location of the leak good news your plumber will quickly be able to replace the drain valve for a relatively inexpensive cost.
Over time though the drain valve may get clogged with particles or sediment from the water.
Like all water valves the drain valve on your water heater can wear out and leak often this happens after you drain the water heater as part of the regular maintenance of the unit but it can happen anytime.
A leaking water heater drain valve is not always a complicated problem.
Why is there water leaking from the drain valve.
The water leaking from the drain valve is one the signs of a faulty water heater or a valve.
And when this happens it may not close properly and leak water.
If a pressure relief valve for a boiler is accidentally installed on a water heater it will leak like crazy from the start.
The relief valve is working the way it s intended and water drained to reduce the pressure inside the tank.
Have a professional replace the drain valve.
Check to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise.
It s always a good idea to confirm the source of the water before assuming it s the drain valve though.
The first spot the plumber will check is the drain valve.
This spigot is located at the bottom of the tank and is responsible for draining the sediment from the water heater.
These valves may look identical but they re set to go off at 30 psi.
Water heater drain valves are used to drain the hot water from the tanks which is a common maintenance task done to remove built up sediment.
The water from the hot water heater overflow at the bottom of the tank.
There s a problem with the valve such as a faulty seal and the water is unintentionally leaking.
This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve.