Why Is Water Heater Leaking From Top

Depending on your water heater model this valve could be located on the side or the top of your water heater.

Why is water heater leaking from top.

Two places it may be leaking from include. A water heater leaking from the top is preferable to one from the bottom. If the hole is large and water begins to pool underneath the water heater than you need to call a plumber. Leaks from the top of the water heater are usually caused by one of the three connections at the top as shown in the diagram below.

If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank it is not looking good for you. The valve is usually a lever or a knob type valve. Although these are the two most common causes of a leaking water heater they are. If your valve is located on the top of your water heater like in the picture below check to see where it s leaking from.

If your hot water heater is designed like this then this could be a reason your water heater is leaking at the top. It s on the cold water pipe which supplies water to the water heater. The first thing you ll want to do is determine where the water heater leak is located. A water heater leaking from top floors in your house via the faucets can be hard to diagnose at first.

A hot water heater merely pushes the heated water through your pipes to your faucet. 1 connection that generates hot water 2 connection that generates cold water 3 connection that releases pressure. In most cases when a water heater is leaking from the top it s usually pretty easy to pinpoint to leak. Find the cold water inlet valve.

Water leaking from your water heater is a bad sign regardless of where the leak is coming from. It s the job of the control valve to hold back this water until you re ready to turn it on. The water heater nipples on top of the water heater which connect the water heater to the cold water inlet pipe and to the hot water exit pipe is another common place to find leaks. Pressure relief valves are located at the top of the water heater.

However some models have these valves located on the very top of the machine. The threads are the thinnest part on the nipple and it is not unusual to find leaks in them. Luckily we re here to help. Consult our water heater service page for more information.

Many water heater tanks have their temperature and pressure relieve valve positioned on the side of the tank. Is the leak on the top of the water heater if so continue on to the section below labeled my water heater is leaking from the top. From its base where it screws into the water heater.