Woke up this morning to a weird dripping sound, turns out my water heater decided to spring a leak overnight... now I'm knee-deep in plumbing tutorials and DIY vids. Um, anyone wanna jump in with what happens next?
Sounds like a fun way to start your day... Did you manage to shut off the water supply yet? Usually, that's the first thing I'd suggest before diving headfirst into DIY vids. Also, did you check if it's leaking from the tank itself or just one of the fittings? If it's the tank, hate to break it to ya, but you're probably looking at a replacement rather than a quick fix.
Another thing—how old is your heater anyway? Most standard tanks last around 8-12 years, give or take. If yours is older than that, patching it up might just be delaying the inevitable. Plus, older units can be less energy-efficient and rack up your bills.
One thing DIY tutorials don't always cover clearly is safety. Are you comfortable working with gas or electrical connections? If you're unsure about handling those safely, it might be worth calling someone in. Seen too many folks get ambitious and end up with bigger issues down the line.
Also curious—did you notice any rust-colored water or weird smells lately? Sometimes leaks are just symptoms of bigger internal corrosion issues. Keep an eye out for that stuff.
Anyway, good luck with your plumbing adventure... been there myself more times than I'd like to admit. Let us know how it turns out!
Did you check the pressure relief valve yet? Sometimes those things get stuck open or corrode, and it looks like a tank leak when it's really just that valve. Also, if you're seeing rust-colored water, that's usually a sign the tank's on borrowed time. Had one go out on me at 10 years exactly—no warning, just woke up to a mini flood. Not fun. If you're not comfy with gas or electric hookups, I'd second getting someone in...better safe than sorry.
"Had one go out on me at 10 years exactly—no warning, just woke up to a mini flood. Not fun."
Yep, seen that happen more times than I'd like. But before you jump straight to replacing the tank, double-check that valve first—it's a quick check and might save you some cash. Just lift the lever slightly (careful, hot water!) and see if water flows freely and stops when released. Rusty water though...usually means you're shopping for a new heater soon. Mine lasted nearly 15 years but gave plenty of subtle hints along the way—guess I got lucky.
Just lift the lever slightly (careful, hot water!) and see if water flows freely and stops when released. Rusty water though...usually means you're shopping for a new heater soon.
Been there, done that—sounds like you're officially inducted into the DIY plumbing club now. Agree with checking that valve first, saved me more than once. But honestly, if you're seeing rust-colored water, your heater's probably giving you its two-week notice. Mine started dripping slowly at first, then one morning it was Niagara Falls in the laundry room. Ended up replacing it myself after a weekend of YouTube binge-watching and a few choice words.
Quick tip: if you do end up swapping it out, measure twice before heading to the store. Nothing worse than hauling home a shiny new heater only to realize it's an inch too wide for the closet door (ask me how I know...). And get yourself a solid dolly or a buddy with strong arms—those tanks weigh more than you'd think. Good luck, plumbing adventures are never dull, that's for sure.
