Why Is My Water Heater Leaking From The Drain Valve

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.

Why is my water heater leaking from the drain valve.

The first spot the plumber will check is the drain valve. The relief valve is working the way it s intended and water drained to reduce the pressure inside the tank. If a pressure relief valve for a boiler is accidentally installed on a water heater it will leak like crazy from the start. A leaking water heater drain valve is not always a complicated problem.

Water heater drain valves are used to drain the hot water from the tanks which is a common maintenance task done to remove built up sediment. Check to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise. After draining or flushing a water heater it is common for the drain valve to fail to close completely. These valves may look identical but they re set to go off at 30 psi.

A leaking drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping either out of the drain opening or around the valve itself. When you see water coming out from the water heater release valve there are two most likely causes. The water from the hot water heater overflow at the bottom of the tank. Sometimes the valve gets bumped and becomes loose or the moisture is caused by something other than the drain valve.

Over time though the drain valve may get clogged with particles or sediment from the water. If the repair isn t successful you ll have water. If this is the location of the leak good news your plumber will quickly be able to replace the drain valve for a relatively inexpensive cost. Your water heater s drain valve allows a plumber to flush your water heater that is drain it clean it and fill it back up.

This drain valve can be capped with a hose cap or you can replace the drain valve completely with a new valve. A leak in the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater is another common issue. And when this happens it may not close properly and leak water. It s always a good idea to confirm the source of the water before assuming it s the drain valve though.

If water continuous running out of hot water heater overflow and water heater overflow pipe gushing you have to change drain valve. Like all water valves the drain valve on your water heater can wear out and leak often this happens after you drain the water heater as part of the regular maintenance of the unit but it can happen anytime. 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. Why is there water leaking from the drain valve.

Have a professional replace the drain valve.