It’s common for water heaters to leak due to a number of reasons. It’s good to note that there are many types of water heater leaks with the main ones being:

Condensation leaks

They are common with gas water heaters. The problem presents itself when you put the water heater on for the first time during the cold weather. The good thing with this problem is that it disappears when the water in the tank warms up.

If you notice water pooling or dripping on or near the water heater, you should dry it up and wait for some time. If you come back and find that the area is still dry, the problem was a condensation issue.

Pipes

Loose pipes are bound to leak if they aren’t tightly fitted to the water heater. The most common area where the leak originates is at the top of the water heater where the cold water supply line and the hot water exit line connect to the tank. It’s common for a leak to develop around the anode rod fitting on the top of the tank.

In rare cases, you will find that the thermostat is the source of the leak. If you have an electric water heater, the heating elements maybe the problem.

Tank

If your water heater is old or damaged, it’s bound to leak. You should note that it’s almost impossible to repair water heater leaks on the tank body—you need to replace the water heater.

Points to remember

You should repair a leaking water heater as soon as you can in order to avoid damaging your home and health. Even a small, slow leak has the potential of damaging your floors and sub-floors. Wet floor promotes the growth of mildew and mold which is harmful to your health.

Before you take a look at the leaking water heater, you should shut off power getting into the appliance. You should also shut off the water supply.

While there are some leaks such as pipe leaks that you can repair on your own, its wise that you hire a water heater repair professional who will not only fix the leaking problem, but who will also ensure that the water heater is safe to use after repair. A water heater repair professional also ensures that the water heater problem doesn’t recur.