Water Heater Leaking in North Haven? What to Do First

Why North Haven Tanks Give Out This Time of Year

Plenty of North Haven homes keep the water heater in a basement or utility room that nobody walks through every day, so a slow leak can soak a finished wall or a box of stored stuff for weeks before anyone notices. Once October cools things down, the water coming into the house gets colder and the tank has to run longer to heat it.

Add longer hot showers and more laundry, and a tank with years of sediment on the bottom gets pushed hardest right when the heat comes on. A heater that was installed when the house last changed hands is often the one that lets go first.

Five Places to Check Before You Call

• The pipe connections on top. Look at the hot and cold lines where they meet the tank. Green or white crust on a fitting usually points to a slow drip a plumber can tighten or replace.
• The relief valve and its discharge pipe. That pipe runs down the side of the tank. If water is dripping from the end, leave the lever alone and keep clear, since the water can be scalding. Rheem says a valve that keeps leaking should be replaced.
• The drain valve near the bottom. If someone flushed the tank recently, the valve may just be cracked open. Turn it closed by hand and dry it off. Our water heater flush guide shows where it sits.
• The floor under the tank. Water pooling from underneath, or rust streaks running down the jacket, means the tank wall is failing. Keep the cold supply closed and call.
• Sweat on the cold pipes. In fall the cold supply line can sweat and drip onto the floor. Wipe the pipes dry, put a towel down and check again in an hour.

The gas burner, the gas line, the venting and any wiring on the heater are jobs for a licensed pro. If you smell gas, get everyone out of the house and call your gas utility from outside.

Signs You Need a Plumber

• Water coming from under the tank. The tank itself is leaking, and that only gets worse.
• A relief valve that drips or runs. The tank may be building too much pressure or heat, and the valve needs a pro.
• Rusty hot water at the tap. Rust on the hot side only often means the inside of the tank is corroding.
• Popping or rumbling while it heats. That's sediment built up on the bottom, which wears a tank out faster.
• A tank past 10 years old that leaks anywhere. At that age, putting money into repairs rarely pays off. Our replacement cost guide breaks down what a new one runs.

Call us or use the form on this page and we'll connect you with a licensed plumber in North Haven who handles water heater repair and replacement.

Quick Answers