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What to Do If It Leaks

The information on this web site is supplemental to the printed instructions that came with your water heater. To reduce the risk of property damage, serious injury or death, read and follow all labels on the water heater and the safety instructions in the printed owner's manual.


Step 1: Tools and Supplies

Pipe joint compound or plumber's tape
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  • Pipe joint compound or plumber's tape

  • Shop rags or paper towels

  • Water pressure gauge with a lazy hand

  • Wrench

  • Pressure reducing valve

  • Thermal expansion tank

Step 2: Turn Power OFF

Locate the water heater's circuit breaker and turn it OFF (or remove the circuit's fuses).
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  • Locate the water heater's circuit breaker and turn it OFF (or remove the circuit's fuses).

  • WARNING! Before working on the water heater, use a non-contact circuit tester or volt meter to make sure power is off. Working on an energized appliance can cause electrical burns, electrocution or death.

Step 3: Dry Any Visible Water

To more easily identify where a leak is coming from, dry up any drips using paper towels.
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  • To more easily identify where a leak is coming from, dry up any drips using paper towels.

Step 4: Remove Insulation

Remove the insulation from the water pipes, if present.
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  • Remove the insulation from the water pipes, if present.

Step 5: Use Paper Towels to Identify Leak Points

Using a fresh, dry paper towel, press the paper towel against the inlet and outlet connections and check for water droplets or moisture.
  • Using a fresh, dry paper towel, press the paper towel against the inlet and outlet connections and check for water droplets or moisture.

Step 6: Try Tightening Leaking Connections First

If the paper towel gets wet, try tightening the connection.
  • If the paper towel gets wet, try tightening the connection.

Step 7: Redo the Connections if Necessary

<strong>Be sure to turn water OFF before doing this step. </strong>
  • Be sure to turn water OFF before doing this step.

  • In some cases, you may have to remove the threaded connection.

Step 8: Clean the Threaded Connection

Clean the threads and gaskets.
  • Clean the threads and gaskets.

Step 9: Reapply Pipe Joint Compound or Plumber's Tape

Reapply pipe joint compound or plumber's tape, if used.
  • Reapply pipe joint compound or plumber's tape, if used.

Step 10: Tighten Connection

Replace the threaded connection and re-tighten.
  • Replace the threaded connection and re-tighten.

Step 11: Check the T&P Discharge Pipe for Drips

Drips coming from the T&amp;P discharge pipe almost always mean the home's water pressure is too high or a thermal expansion tank is needed or both.
  • Drips coming from the T&P discharge pipe almost always mean the home's water pressure is too high or a thermal expansion tank is needed or both.

Step 12: Install a Thermal Expansion Tank

A Thermal Expansion Tank is often needed to stop drips from the T&amp;P valve.
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  • A Thermal Expansion Tank is often needed to stop drips from the T&P valve.

  • Replacing the T&P valve almost never stops the drips because T&P valves rarely fail and almost all drips from the T&P valve are due to high water pressure and/or thermal expansion.

  • See Maintenance section for information about Pressure Reducing Valves and Thermal Expansion Tanks.

Step 13: Check Your Home's Water Pressure

<strong>High water pressure is one of the main reasons water heaters leak prematurely.</strong>
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  • High water pressure is one of the main reasons water heaters leak prematurely.

  • Plumbing codes require that your home's water pressure be 80 pounds per square inch (psi) or less. Most experts recommend 50-60 psi.

  • If your old water heater leaked prematurely, check your home's water pressure with a pressure gauge with a lazy hand (available at hardware stores and home centers for a few dollars). Measure the water pressure over a 24-hour period. (Water pressures are highest at night.)

Step 14: Protect Appliances by Installing a Pressure Reducing Valve

Plumbing codes require that your home's water pressure be no higher than 80 psi. If your water pressure exceeds 80 psi, install a Pressure Reducing Valve.
  • Plumbing codes require that your home's water pressure be no higher than 80 psi. If your water pressure exceeds 80 psi, install a Pressure Reducing Valve.

  • Pressure Reducing Valves are adjustable. Most experts recommend setting the Pressure Reducing Valve to 50 - 60 psi.

  • Controlling high water pressure helps protect your water heater, toilet valves, washing machine hoses, and the electronic valves on washing machines, dishwashers, ice makers and other appliances.

Step 15: Check Other Threaded Connections

<strong>There are several threaded connection points on the water heater such as the T&amp;P valve and the drain valve.</strong>
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  • There are several threaded connection points on the water heater such as the T&P valve and the drain valve.

  • Use a dry paper towel to determine the source of the leak.

Step 16: Remove and Reapply Pipe Joint Compound

Before removing the threaded connection, be sure to drain the tank. See  <strong>Draining and Flushing </strong> in the <strong>Maintenance </strong>section.
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  • Before removing the threaded connection, be sure to drain the tank. See Draining and Flushing in the Maintenance section.

  • In most cases, a leaking threaded connection will have to be removed and pipe joint compound reapplied in order to stop the drips.

Step 17: Turn Power ON

Once the source of the leak has been found and fixed, make sure tank is completely full of water.  Turn power ON.
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  • Once the source of the leak has been found and fixed, make sure tank is completely full of water. Turn power ON.

  • It is extremely rare for a new water heater tank to leak. "Leaks" involving a new water heater are almost always from threaded connections or the home's plumbing pipes.