Hot Water Heater Leaking From Bottom How Long Will It Last

You ll come home to a water heater with the bottom joint split completely so water has been pouring out at whatever rate the pipe can supply for the last 14 hours.

Hot water heater leaking from bottom how long will it last.

If you have been using the same water heater for more than ten years then the time may soon be up. It gets difficult at some point to prevent the water heater from leaking. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you. Water heaters can last a long time but even the best ones can leak.

How to prevent water heater leaking from the bottom. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it but that really is not recommended. The average life span of a water heater is 8 to 12 years. If your water heater is in a location that will cause damage to your home you should strongly consider replacing it after 10 years or before if any of the following symptoms occur.

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. 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. Turn off the water heater and water supply now that you know where the leak is you ll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage. Most experts recommend water heater replacement by the tenth year.

A leaking water heater doesn t mean that it needs replacing but you will want to fix any leaks as soon as possible. Once your water heater has been sitting for a few hours check to see if you still have a leak or any condensation present on the outside of your unit. To fix this problem start by shutting down the power or the gas supply to your unit and let it just sit anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. Even a small amount of water can cause a huge amount of damage so it s important to asses the situation as soon as possible.

First turn off the water heater. Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are. For electric water heaters find the water heater s circuit breaker and flip it to off for gas water heaters look on your water heater for an on off switch or. Nonetheless a water heater like other appliances has a lifespan that eventually runs out.

You can check the serial number on the heater to confirm the year of manufacture. Water heater tanks won t last forever. A standard water heater lasts for 8 to 12 years but proper maintenance can keep it running for longer years than its lifespan. While it s hard to put an exact lifespan to your water heater nothing lasts forever.

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.