When your water heater starts spewing water all over your basement floor, you know you have a serious problem that needs to get under control right away. While you won’t be able to fully fix your water heater without professional help, there are steps you can take to stop the flow of water into or out of you water heater. Locate the source of the leaking water, then follow these steps to stop water from entering or leaving your water heater:

1. Shut Off The Water: You need to stop the flow of water coming into your water heater. This can be done by shutting off the valve on top of or leading into the unit. If this does not resolve your issue, continue troubleshooting.
2. Cease Water Use: Even if you’re using cold water, you’ll want to limit as much water use as you can. Look to stop your dishwasher and laundry if they’re running.
3. Drain Your Water Heater: If after you’ve followed steps 1 and 2, your water heater is still spewing water, begin draining your water heater into buckets or out of your home via a hose. This is a last resort measure, but should stop the issue.

If you’re still experiencing issues, or if your water heater is still being fed water, shut off the supply of water to your home via your main shut off valve. This will stop all water flow throughout your home, but it will cease the water being wasted as it spills onto your basement floor.

There are many reasons why your water heater might be leaking. Everything from a worn out pressure release valve to a crack in your water heater can be a troublesome issue requiring professional attention. Even if you are able to temporarily stop the leak issue, give the water heater experts at Lake Cook Plumbing a call to fix the underlying issues that cause the leaks. Ignoring these seemingly “minor” issues, may end up in a full system breakdown further down the line, so don’t hesitate to call today.

By zachadmachinescom