Leaking from the Bottom of the Tank: Finding the Source. Cover the pipe’s threads with Teflon tape and use the two pipe wrenches to tighten it in place. My heater is supposed to have a check valve that will prevent the expanded water from … Also, as water is heated, it expands. An expansion tank or expansion vessel is a small tank used to protect closed (not open to atmospheric pressure) water heating systems and domestic hot water systems from excessive pressure. There are three types of leaks possible on the extension tank. On speaking to a plumber and showing photos he advised that the tank needed to urgently be isolated and that it had been installed incorrectly. Rubber Diaphragm Wear Out. This is the safety measure on the water heater that opens up when it gets too hot or the pressure gets too high and releases some water out of the tank. Inside, the tank has a rubber diaphragm at around the mid-point of the tank; pressurized air goes below the diaphragm in the bottom half of the tank, and water … Prepare the Tank. Expansion tanks are required when a closed system exists, both by water heater manufacturers and by plumbing codes. suggestions. Step 2: Turn off the water heater and water supply Now that you know where the leak is, you'll want to slow the leak to prevent further water damage. Where pipes connect to your water heater are often sources of leaks. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. An expansion tank is a small tank that protects closed and domestic water heating systems from excessive pressure. Check the pressure relief valve. When this … Yliya Zhuravleva / Getty Images. When the pressure builds up enough, the T&P relief valve on the water heater just does it’s job and relieves the excess pressure by leaking a little water. Check the pressure gauge. WARNING: Your water heater may be hot. Amazon's Choice for hot water heater leak alarm. Unlisted cord and plug. Once you identify the leak, you can then start the repair work. Fixing a Boiler Expansion Tank with Exce... Fixing a Boiler Expansion Tank with Excess Water. So where’s the excess water? When water is heated, or the hot water is shut off quickly, the tanks, filled with both air and water, will equalize the resulting water pressure. We welcome your comments and If a pipe connection is leaking then the best method to fix the problem is to open up the pipe joints and wipe up any expelled water. What to do With a Leaking Water Heater STEP 1: Turn off the water. A properly sized and charged tank is designed to keep the system pressure about 5.0 psi lower than the pressure relief while the system is at maximum operating temperature. Website operating See Maintenance section for information about Pressure Reducing Valves and Thermal Expansion Tanks. 3. If that pressure gets too high, your water heater runs the risk of exploding! My expansion tank does not have a pressure relief valve. Many water heater leaks are caused by leaks at fittings and connections that can be fixed. Copyright© In that case the symptom may be observing that heating system pressure relief valve may spill or water may be found leaking out at the expansion tank's air pressure adjustment 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. All rights reserved. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Copyright © 2020 Rooter Guard. If you experience a leaking water heater, it is recommended to turn off the water to your tank. Simply a pipe coming right out of the top of my water heater (then a 90 angle) and right into the expansion tank… So, why does my water heater pressure relief valve leak? I have water coming out the back of a 35? When water is heated up inside of a water heater, thermal expansion causes the pressure inside of the tank to build up. Turn off the valve that feeds water from the boiler to the expansion tank. Shut off the water feed valve and then replace the pressure relief valve using the two pipe wrenches. The pressure below the rubber diaphragm in the tank may not have been set at the right level during installation, for example, allowing water to enter the tank too frequently and wearing out the diaphragm prematurely. There are numerous possible reasons your water heater’s pressure relief valve leaks; 1) either the water pressure inside the tank is too high, 2) the water temperature is too high, 3) the T&P valve hasn’t been used in a few years, 4) the wrong T&P valve was installed, or 5) the T&P valve itself has failed.