Can My Water Heater Leak Gas

Finally if none of the prior inspections showed a cause for leaking then it is likely that the tank inside the water heater has gone bad.

Can my water heater leak gas.

Most people know that when their water heater is leaking it means bad news. Even so there s always a chance your water heater could leak. Normally this will be a major flooding leak not small dripping. See below for a visual illustration of a gas water heater shut down.

If the leak stops it is an indication that you are experiencing condensation. When humid air comes in contact with a cold surface droplets of water form in a process called condensation. If you smell gas around your heater turn the gas off immediately and call a licensed plumber to check the heater. This can happen on the water heater itself associated pipes or any nearby appliance.

This more common on older water heaters but it can happen to newer tanks if the insulation has been damaged or the thermostat is set too high for safe operation. Allow the tank to sit idle for several hours with the power or gas turned off. Determine the location of the leak. If it s a gas water heater it will have a dial or an on off switch near the spot where the gas line connects.

If you have a leaking gas powered water heater we recommend that you shut off the gas supply before working with the tank. Gas water heater what to do with a leaking hot water heater gas water heater. If you smell sulfur or what some may describe as rotten eggs this may be a sign of a gas leak which indicates there may be a problem with your water heater or other hvac equipment in your home. Turn off the power to the leaking water heater.

Popping and knocking noise. There should be a dedicated gas shut off valve on the gas line leading to the tank. Using the image below it seems like it might be coming from the red circle where the dial connects to the thermostat or the blue circle where the manifold tube connects to the thermostat. My gas water heater is certainly leaking gas.

I can smell it. Determine that what you are smelling is in fact gas. A small trickle of water can be easily cleaned up with minimal damage to your floors. If the tank has ruptured and is leaking the water heater cannot be fixed and it must be replaced.

This minor nuisance can turn into a significant problem before you know it so it is something that should be handled quickly and professionally. If it s an electric water heater. I don t smell anything around the green circle the pilot tube. If you detect a sulfur rotten egg type smell near the water heater it could be because there is a gas leak inside that could ignite when the light is on.

If it does the good news is that most small water heater leaks can be patched up pretty easily.