A puddle of water spreading on a concrete floor beneath a leaking water heater

Water on the floor

Leaking Water Heater Replacement

Water under the heater needs quick action. Find where the leak is coming from, protect the home, and replace the tank when it is the source.

Water Heater Leaking Replacement for Snellville area homes

Finding water around your water heater is stressful. The good news is that not every leak means a new heater. The important part is finding the source quickly and limiting damage while you do.

Leaking water heater replacement in Snellville is for the cases where the tank itself has failed. When the leak comes from a fitting, a drain valve or the relief valve, a repair may be enough. When it comes from the tank, replacement is the only lasting answer.

Where leaks usually come from

Supply connections at the top

Loose or corroded fittings can drip down the side and look like a tank leak.

The relief valve

A valve that discharges can mean high pressure or high temperature, or a worn valve.

The drain valve

Plastic drain valves can weep. This is usually a repair.

The bottom of the tank

Water seeping from under the jacket or base often means internal corrosion. This calls for replacement.

What to do right now

Turn off power at the breaker for electric units, or set gas units to pilot or off
Close the cold water supply valve above the heater
Move stored items away and soak up standing water
Avoid touching the relief valve or hot pipes, which can scald
Reach out through the contact page to arrange next steps

How a leaking tank is handled

1
Find the source
Fittings, valves and the tank body are checked to see exactly where water starts.
2
Repair if possible
If a valve or connection is to blame, it is repaired and the tank stays.
3
Replace if not
If the tank has failed, a matched replacement is drained, removed and installed.
4
Protect the future
A drain pan and, where needed, an expansion tank help prevent a repeat.

Preventing the next leak

High water pressure and thermal expansion strain a tank every time it heats. On homes with a check valve or pressure reducing valve, an expansion tank absorbs that extra volume. The expansion tank installation page explains how it works.

Indoor heaters benefit from a drain pan piped to a safe location. It will not stop a leak, but it gives you a warning and protects floors, ceilings and stored belongings while you arrange a replacement.

This service is available in Snellville and the nearby communities listed on our service areas page. For broader questions, the water heater FAQ covers the basics.