Had a “plumbed” drain pan when my old tank started leaking... thought I was clever. Joke’s on me—the water still found its way under the drywall. Ended up with soggy socks and a fan running for days. Replacing early is cheaper than new flooring.
thought I was clever. Joke’s on me—the water still found its way under the drywall.
That’s the classic water heater sneak attack—water always finds a way, right? Here’s my quick checklist for anyone dealing with a rogue tank:
1. Shut off the water supply ASAP (don’t trust the pan alone).
2. Use a wet/dry vac to get standing water before it creeps further.
3. Pull baseboards and drill a few small holes if drywall got wet—helps air things out faster.
4. If you see swelling or mold, cut out the damaged section early. Trust me, it’s easier than fighting hidden rot later.
I’ve seen folks try to “wait and see” but that usually means more repairs down the road... and more soggy socks. Sometimes early replacement is just the lesser evil.
Yeah, water’s got a sixth sense for finding the worst possible path, doesn’t it? I’ve been there—thought I had everything sealed up tight, only to find a soggy patch behind the baseboard a week later. That checklist is solid, especially the part about pulling baseboards and drilling holes. It feels extreme in the moment, but man, it beats the smell of hidden mildew creeping up on you months down the line.
I’ll admit, I used to be one of those “wait and see” types. Figured if I just ran a fan and crossed my fingers, things would dry out on their own. Spoiler: they didn’t. Ended up replacing a whole section of drywall that could’ve been saved if I’d just acted faster. Lesson learned.
One thing I’d add—if you’ve got carpet anywhere near where the water pooled, don’t trust that it’s dry just because it feels okay on top. Water loves to hang out in the padding underneath. Pulled up a corner once and found it was basically a swamp under there... not fun.
Anyway, don’t beat yourself up over it. Even with all the prep in the world, water finds its way. The important thing is catching it early and not being afraid to tear into stuff if you have to. Better a little demo now than a big headache later.
You’re not wrong about water hiding out where you least expect it. I’ve seen plenty of folks trust a dry carpet surface, only to end up with warped floors or a nasty mold bloom weeks later. Pulling baseboards and drilling weep holes might sound like overkill, but if you’ve ever had to gut a wall because of missed moisture, you know it’s worth it. I’d just add—don’t rely too much on those cheap moisture meters either. They’re useful, but not foolproof. Sometimes you’ve got to trust your nose or just open things up if you suspect trouble. Water’s sneaky, and wishful thinking rarely fixes the problem.
Yeah, I learned the hard way that “dry to the touch” doesn’t mean squat. My water heater leaked last month, and I thought I’d caught it all with towels and a fan. Fast forward a week—my closet smelled like a swamp. Pulled up the carpet and, sure enough, it was still damp underneath. Those moisture meters are kinda like fortune cookies… sometimes right, sometimes just wishful thinking. Next time, I’m not trusting my eyes (or my nose) alone.
