What Should You Do About a Water Heater Leak?

Stop the Water at the Source

A leaking tank keeps refilling from the cold supply, so the leak will not stop by itself. The valve on the pipe above the heater shuts off that supply. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops.

Shutting the valve also protects the rest of the house. A tank holds a fixed amount of water, but the supply behind it has no such limit. Closing the inlet caps the flood at whatever the tank already held, which can be 40 or 50 gallons.

If the valve is stuck, blocked by boxes or sitting in water, go to the main water valve for the house. Fixing a stuck valve is a plumber's job for later. Right now the only goal is to stop the flow.

• Find the cold water valve on the pipe feeding the top of the heater
• Turn the handle clockwise to close it
• Use the main water valve if the heater valve will not turn
• Do not wade through deep water to reach a valve

Water Heater Leak Services That Fit This Question

• Water Heater Tank Leak Flood Cleanup

  A seeping tank soaks the floor beneath it for days, so the crew maps the hidden wet spread.

• Water Heater Relief Valve Leak Flood Cleanup

  A relief valve that keeps discharging soaks floors and walls, so the crew extracts and dries them.

• Gas Water Heater Flood Cleanup

  A gas heater flood needs gas safety first, then crews extract the water and dry the structure.

Cut Power and Gas, and Stay Safe

For an electric heater, flip its breaker off, but only when the panel is dry and you can reach it without standing in water. If the floor around the panel is wet, leave it alone and wait for an electrician. For a gas heater, turn the gas control to OFF.

Tank water can be hot enough to scald. It can also sit around outlets, cords and power strips. Keep children and pets out of the room, and never step into water that touches an electrical item.

• Smell gas? Leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside
• Never relight a pilot light in a wet or flooded room
• Stay out from under sagging ceilings and bulging drywall
• Wear shoes with good grip, since wet floors are slick

Document the Leak Before Anything Moves

Photos and a short video of the tank, the puddle and the wet walls help the insurance claim later. Take them from a dry spot, and note what time you found the leak.

After that, lift rugs, boxes and electronics onto dry surfaces if the path is safe. Leave heavy furniture where it stands. The crew moves it with proper protection.

A list of what got wet helps too. Note the rooms, the flooring types and anything stored on the floor. The crew uses that list to size the equipment, and the insurer uses it to see the whole loss.

• Photograph the tank, its label and any rust or drips
• Record a video walk-through of every wet room
• Write down the time the water was first noticed
• Keep soaked items until the insurer says otherwise

Call the Cleanup Crew While the Plumber Handles the Heater

A plumber repairs or replaces the heater. That does not lift one gallon off the floor. The cleanup crew pumps out the standing water, maps the moisture with meters and a thermal camera, and sets up drying equipment.

Call Water Heater Flood Cleanup Pros at (888) 471-9821 any hour, 24/7. Say where the heater sits, which floors are wet and whether a room sits below. A local crew plans the pump-out and drying around those details.

Describe stairs, tight hallways and parking when you call. Hoses, pumps and air movers have to reach the wet room, and the crew packs gear to match the way in.

Mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials, so the crew does not wait for the plumber to finish. Both jobs can run at once.

• Call the plumber for the heater and the shutoff valve
• Call (888) 471-9821 for pump-out and drying
• Call the insurer to report the loss

More Water Heater Leak Questions

• What Does It Cost to Clean Up a Water Heater Leak?
• Does Insurance Cover a Water Heater Leak?
• How Long Does It Take to Dry Out After a Water Heater Leak?
• Who Should You Call for a Water Heater Leak?