{"id":2428,"date":"2026-06-17T13:47:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/?p=2428"},"modified":"2026-06-24T14:08:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T18:08:19","slug":"water-heater-leaking-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/blog\/water-heater-leaking-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Heater Leaking? Here&#8217;s What to Do Before You Call a Plumber"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2428\" class=\"elementor elementor-2428\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-042d0be e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"042d0be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e955ffa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e955ffa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/elementor\/thumbs\/Powells-Plumbing-Air-Location-Norfolk-4-rpft7oai5ueuufmg8kizvspj9uxszwucu3laufk3i0.jpg\" title=\"Powell\u2019s Plumbing &amp; Air Location Norfolk (4)\" alt=\"Powell\u2019s Plumbing &amp; Air Location Norfolk (4)\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7305eb56 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7305eb56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c601112 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c601112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Short Answer<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your water heater is leaking, <strong>turn off the power and water supply before doing anything else<\/strong>. For gas units, turn the gas valve to &#8220;off.&#8221; For electric units, flip the breaker. Then shut off the cold water inlet valve on top of the heater. These two steps prevent further damage and keep you safe while you figure out where the leak is coming from.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Step 1: Turn Off the Power<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water and electricity don&#8217;t mix. Before you touch anything, kill the power.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Gas water heater:<\/strong> Find the gas valve on the front of the unit (usually near the bottom). Turn it to the &#8220;off&#8221; position. Don&#8217;t touch the <a href=\"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/heating\/thermostat-installation\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Heating &gt; Thermostat Installation\">thermostat<\/a> or any electrical components if you smell gas \u2014 leave the house and call your gas company.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Electric water heater:<\/strong> Go to your electrical panel and flip the breaker labeled &#8220;water heater&#8221; to off. If breakers aren&#8217;t labeled, turn off the main breaker. Don&#8217;t stand in pooled water while doing this.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Step 2: Shut Off the Water Supply<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Look for the cold water inlet pipe on top of your water heater. There should be a valve \u2014 either a gate valve (round handle, turn clockwise) or a ball valve (lever handle, turn 90 degrees). Close it to stop water from flowing into the tank.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If the valve is stuck or broken, shut off the main water supply to your house. The main shutoff is usually near the water meter or where the main line enters your home.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Step 3: Find the Leak<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Not all water heater leaks are emergencies. Some are minor fixes. Here&#8217;s where to look:<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Top of the Tank<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Leaks from the top are usually the easiest to fix. Check:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cold water inlet and hot water outlet connections:<\/strong> Loose pipe fittings are the most common cause. A wrench can tighten them.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Anode rod port:<\/strong> If the anode rod fitting is corroded, water seeps out. A <a href=\"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/plumbing\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"59\" title=\"Plumbing\">plumber<\/a> can replace the rod and reseal it.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Side of the Tank<\/span><\/h3><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Temperature and pressure (T&amp;P) relief valve:<\/strong> This valve is designed to release water when pressure or temperature gets too high. If it&#8217;s dripping, the valve itself might be faulty \u2014 or the water pressure in your home is too high. Either way, don&#8217;t cap it or plug it. It&#8217;s a safety device. Call a plumber.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bottom of the Tank<\/span><\/h3><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Drain valve:<\/strong> Check if the drain valve at the bottom is fully closed. If it&#8217;s dripping even when closed, the valve needs replacing ($10 part).<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The tank itself:<\/strong> Water pooling under the tank with no obvious source means the internal tank has corroded through. This can&#8217;t be repaired \u2014 the unit needs replacement.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Step 4: Contain the Water<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While you wait for a plumber:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Put towels or a bucket under the leak<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If the leak is significant, connect a garden hose to the drain valve and run it to a floor drain or outside<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Move anything stored near the water heater to prevent water damage \u2014 boxes, tools, holiday decorations<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If water is spreading toward electrical outlets or the electrical panel, don&#8217;t walk through it \u2014 call for help<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What NOT to Do<\/span><\/h2><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don&#8217;t ignore it.<\/strong> A small drip becomes a big leak. A 50-gallon tank can flood a room in hours.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don&#8217;t try to patch a leaking tank.<\/strong> Epoxy, tape, and sealant don&#8217;t hold on a corroded steel tank under pressure. It&#8217;s a temporary fix that fails.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don&#8217;t cap the T&amp;P valve.<\/strong> It exists to prevent the tank from over-pressurizing. Blocking it creates a safety hazard.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don&#8217;t turn the power back on<\/strong> until a plumber says the unit is safe to operate.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When to Call a Plumber vs. DIY<\/span><\/h2><table><thead><tr><th><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Situation<\/span><\/th><th><span style=\"color: #000000;\">DIY?<\/span><\/th><th><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Call a Plumber?<\/span><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Loose pipe fitting on top<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes \u2014 tighten with a wrench<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it still leaks after tightening<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dripping drain valve<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe \u2014 if you&#8217;re comfortable<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recommended<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">T&amp;P valve leaking<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes \u2014 could indicate pressure issue<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water under the tank (no obvious source)<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes \u2014 likely tank failure<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Smell gas near the unit<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No \u2014 leave the house<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Call gas company first, then plumber<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is a leaking water heater dangerous?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A small leak from a pipe fitting isn&#8217;t dangerous, but it will get worse. A leaking tank can cause significant water damage and mold growth. And a gas leak near a water heater is a genuine safety emergency \u2014 leave the house and call your gas company immediately.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How much does it cost to fix a leaking water heater?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pipe fitting <a href=\"https:\/\/callpowells.com\/wilmington\/plumbing\/repairs\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"58\" title=\"Plumbing &gt; Repairs\">repairs<\/a> cost $75 to $200. A new drain valve is $100 to $200 installed. A T&amp;P valve replacement runs $150 to $300. If the tank itself is leaking, you&#8217;re looking at full replacement: $600 to $1,400 for a tank unit, $2,500 to $5,500 for tankless.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Can I still use hot water if my water heater is leaking?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If the leak is minor (a dripping fitting) and you&#8217;ve confirmed it&#8217;s not a gas or electrical hazard, you can use hot water until a plumber arrives. If the tank is actively leaking from the bottom or the T&amp;P valve is releasing water, shut the unit down and don&#8217;t use it until it&#8217;s inspected.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turn off the power and water supply first. Then find the leak &#8211; top, side, or bottom of the tank. Here&#8217;s exactly what to do step by step.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[26,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-water-heater-repair","category-water-heater-replacement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Water Heater Leaking? Here&#039;s What to Do Before You Call a Plumber - Powells<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Water heater leaking? Turn off power and water supply first. 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