Water leaks are no laughing matter, and when your water heater breaks it can cause numerous problems, including being a fire hazard. In this post we’re going to explain why you need an emergency local plumber if your water heater breaks, and explain what you can do in the process in order to be able to get the best service, as well as keep you and your family safe.
When Your Water Heater Breaks
If your water heater breaks, the initial reaction is to rush to your water main, but this could be a detrimental mistake. If you know where your water main is, you can turn off your water later. If you have a gas water heater, then you want to turn off your gas line on the water heater itself, or the line to the pilot light. In this instance, you can safely (and should) turn off your water heater completely, as gas water heaters close the gas line completely when you turn them off. This will ensure that you don’t have additional gas leaking in your house.
If your water heater is electric, or even a hybrid (electric starter with a gas pilot light), then the first thing you need to do is shut the breaker off for your water heater (located in your household fuse panel). Don’t shut off everything, but this one definitely needs to be shut off. Then you can safely walk across any leaked water that may be touching your water heater. Failure to shut off your water heater’s breaker may result in electric shock should you walk across the water leaking around it, or cause an electrical fire. Also make sure it is disconnected from the electricity if you have it plugged into an actual outlet (some water heaters are just connected to the house wiring directly.
Shut Off the Water and Make the Call
After you’ve done everything you can, you need to shut off the water both to your water heater and the water main to your home (if you know where it is at and can easily reach it. Do this while you call your emergency plumber. You can even call the plumber during the step above in the last paragraph to make sure that you manage the time a little better. After you do this, always use your outdoor water spigots or other faucets in your house so you can drain the excess water pressure in the home. You don’t have to drain your water heater, but if you have a way to, you can do this as well.
Tell Your Plumber Every Detail and Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask plenty of questions. When your plumber arrives, ask if you can see proof of his certification and insurance first. This keeps you and him both safe. Then you can let him give you a quote, and discuss any problems that you’ve had with your water heater, as well as the leak to him. You may have to replace the water heater, or it could be a leaky pipe connected to it. For your protection, always make sure you use a certified plumber in order to get the work done right and quickly. You can find more great plumbing resources at https://www.coreplumbingsd.com/.
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