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Diagnose the Leak — Thorough Water Heater Inspection: Look for Signs of Damage

Beginner2 hours

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Water Heater Replacement Guide: Inspect & Replace · Step 3 of 4

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In this video

Observe the area around the water heater for puddles of water. Check the drain valve at the bottom of the tank to ensure it's not the source of the leak. Follow the T&P (Temperature and Pressure Relief) valve's discharge pipe down to the floor to see if water is dripping from it. Tap on the expansion tank to check if it's full of water; a solid, non-hollow sound indicates the internal bladder has failed and the tank is water-logged, which is the likely cause of the T&P valve leak due to excessive pressure from thermal expansion.

Goal: Water Heater Repair

  • A working expansion tank should sound hollow on top (where the air is) and more solid on the bottom (where the water is). A completely failed tank will sound solid and feel heavy.

Used in this video

  • Flashlight (brand: Unknown, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Power Source: Battery-powered, Purpose: Illumination) · optional — To illuminate the area around the water heater to find the source of the leak.
1.2K views941 minute 12 seconds
Matt Risinger

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FAQs

What tools are essential for properly inspecting my water heater as described in this guide?

For this inspection phase, you'll primarily need a good flashlight to illuminate dark areas, your smartphone camera to document findings, and potentially a small mirror for difficult-to-see spots. Keep a notepad and pen handy to record crucial information like the data plate details and any observed issues. No specialized plumbing tools are required for the inspection itself.

What are the most critical safety precautions I should take when inspecting my water heater for leaks or damage?

Always ensure the area around your water heater is well-ventilated, especially if it's a gas unit, and avoid touching any exposed electrical wiring. If you detect a rotten egg smell, which indicates a possible gas leak, evacuate immediately and contact your gas provider. When checking for leaks, avoid putting your hands directly under dripping water if the water heater is hot.

How can I tell the difference between a minor issue that can be repaired and a major problem requiring a full replacement?

Minor issues often involve easily replaceable components like a leaky drain valve or a faulty heating element, especially on a younger unit. Major problems, such as rust on the tank itself, persistent leaks from the tank's base, or frequent breakdowns on an old unit (over 10 years), typically indicate that replacement is the more cost-effective and safer long-term solution. Evaluate the unit's age alongside the severity of the damage.

If my water heater is older but still working, when is it truly time to consider replacing it based on this guide?

Even if an older water heater is still functioning, consider replacement if it's approaching or past its expected lifespan (8-12 years for tank models), shows signs of internal corrosion, or requires frequent, costly repairs. Proactive replacement can prevent unexpected and potentially damaging failures, especially if efficiency has also declined. This guide helps you assess these factors.

Transcript
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So here we get a water heater, we've got to leak on the floor as you can see here, electric water heater, so we kind of looked already, double check to see if there's any water coming out of the drain here, that's not it, but we did however, notice that we've got water coming out of the pressure, the piping that goes to the pressure relief valve, so 9 times out of 10, that usually is a problem with an expansion tank. This expansion tank here, what allows the water inside of the system to do is have a place to expand. When the water heater turns on, when it heats up, molecules expand, they have to have somewhere to go, and you don't want that trying to burst the pipes in your plumbing system. So you have an expansion tank, and inside of this expansion tank, you have a little rubber bladder that's full of air on one side. So as the water heats up, it's able to push against that air, compress it as it cools down, it's able to expand back out, water temperature heats back up, expands against that, that compresses that air, compresses it, back and forth, that's basically how it works. But after a while, these things get little holes in them, and they become full of water. Now she can come here and see this one's full, so what we're going to do is just turn the

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