Find the source first. Water from a fitting on top, the drain valve or the relief valve's pipe can often be fixed. Water seeping from the tank body itself means the inner tank has rusted through, and it needs to be replaced. Until then, turn the heat off, close the cold water valve on top, and keep the floor dry.
Smell gas? Stop. Leave the house, don't use switches or phones inside, and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Shut it down safely
- Turn off the heat. Gas: turn the control knob to "off" or "pilot". Electric: switch off the breaker.
- Close the cold water supply valve on the pipe going into the top of the heater. This stops the tank refilling.
- Protect the area. Move boxes, dry the floor, and set down towels or a pan so you can see where fresh water appears.
- Don't drain it yourself unless a plumber tells you to. The water can be scalding, and an old drain valve may not close again.
Where is the water coming from?
From a pipe connection on top
Drips running down the side often start at the cold inlet, the hot outlet or a flex connector on top. Loose or corroded fittings are usually repairable.
From the relief valve pipe
The temperature and pressure relief valve on the side has a pipe running down toward the floor. If water comes out of it, either the valve is worn, or the tank is getting too hot or too high in pressure, sometimes because of a missing or failed expansion tank. A relief valve that keeps discharging needs attention soon. It's a safety device doing its job.
From the drain valve near the bottom
A plastic or brass drain valve can drip at the spout or around its threads. These can usually be replaced.
From the tank itself
If water seeps from under the tank, from the burner area on a gas heater, or through the insulation and jacket, and none of the fittings are wet, the steel tank inside has corroded through. There's no repair for that. The heater needs replacing.
Condensation
A gas heater filling with very cold water can drip condensation onto the burner, which can look like a leak and stop once the tank heats up. If water keeps appearing on a fully hot tank, it's a leak.
Water coming from the tank body? That's a replacement. Talk to a plumber about sizing and timing before the leak gets worse.
Call nowHow long will it last once it starts leaking?
There's no safe number. A tank leak can stay a slow drip for weeks or let go suddenly. If the heater is in a finished basement or near anything valuable, don't wait.
Can I still use the water?
Cold water to the rest of the house is fine with the heater's supply valve closed. You'll be without hot water until it's fixed or replaced.
If it's being replaced
- Elk River requires permits for most plumbing and mechanical work (City of Elk River). Ask your installer to handle it.
- If you're an Elk River Municipal Utilities customer, check ERMU's rebate on ENERGY STAR heat pump water heaters before choosing a model (ERMU).
- Ask about a drain pan and an expansion tank.