Faulty Hot Water Heater | SERVPRO® of Gwinnett County South

6/19/2019 (Permalink)

A leaking water heater is no fun!

Water can damage your home in many ways. Most of the time it's an external threat, but sometimes a leak from inside can cause just as much, or even more, damage.  When a leak develops, the water might not come rushing out at once. Most of the time it's a slow leak that may go unnoticed for days.

If the water heater is located on an upper floor, the damage will be even more extensive, since water always flows downhill. The leaking water heater on a second floor can cause extensive damage to both walls and flooring as the water seeks the lowest spot in the building or home.

Fortunately, there are steps people can take to minimize the risk of a water heater causing damage to their home or business.  The first thing people need to do is regularly inspect the water heater and the pipes around the unit for any signs of leakage, moisture, mold, mineral buildup and corrosion.  Putting in an inexpensive drip pan below the water heater that drains to the outside of the property can help prevent thousands of dollars in water damage in many cases.

Age is also a big factor. Many water heater manufacturers estimate the lifespan of these appliances to be 8 to 12 years, so replacing a unit when it is nearing this age can be a good insurance policy against unwanted damage.

What to look for:

• Water doesn't get as hot as it used to.
• There's rust in water coming from your faucets or on your clothes.
• Your hot water heater makes cracking and popping sounds when it's heating.
• There's a metallic taste in your hot water.
• Rust is forming on the outside bottom of your water heater.
• A puddle is forming under your hot water heater.
• The burner units have become clogged or rusty.

Unfortunately, leaking water heaters result in countless insurance claims each year. If a small leak goes unnoticed – occurring while you are on vacation, for example – the damage can quickly escalate into a major claim. Call SERVPRO® of Gwinnett County South at 770-448-5782 if you experience water damage caused by a faulty hot water heater.