Water Leaking From Water Heater Drain Valve

If the water heater is leaking from the drain valve a replacement valve needs to be installed.

Water leaking from water heater drain valve. Failing gasket plastic drain valves also use a rubber gasket that deteriorates over time. A slow leak can add up to hundreds of dollars in water damage repairs. A leaking hot water drain valve wastes energy and can ruin anything in the immediate area. If the repair isn t successful you ll have water leaking into your house.

Hot water heater drain valves are prone to leaking and breakage. Check to see if the drain valve washer needs to be replaced by unscrewing and see if it tightens any further. Often this happens after you drain the water heater as part of the regular maintenance of the unit but it can happen anytime. Sometimes it is the valve itself that is leaking and for older tanks it can be the flange around the valve that leaks.

Regular maintenance performed on a water heater will prolong the life of the unit. The function of the drain valve is to allow the tank to be emptied during replacement or repair so water is only supposed to come out of it when the valve is intentionally opened generally after attaching a hose. Like all water valves the drain valve on your water heater can wear out and leak. Often an electric water heater will leak at the drain valve if the washer inside the valve is worn or damaged.

Worn out plastic some hot water tank drain valves are made of plastic. A water heater drain valve can start leaking and give you problems. Over the years this plastic can become brittle and when the valve is used to empty the drain tank the plastic can crack which can cause a leak. To check this loosen the screw that secures the handle on the drain valve faucet with.

Not sure if the leak is coming from your drain valve. Replacing the washer should fix your leaky valve but if it doesn t you may have a more serious problem. While you can repair similar valves such as garden spigots it s not a good idea to attempt a repair on a water heater drain valve.