Although it doesn’t happen often, water heaters sometimes break, and when they do, they can cause massive damage to your home. If this problem happens and you don’t know how to handle it, you will not only be looking at the cost of fixing extensive water damage to your home but may also be exposed to the risk of electric shock or gas fire, warns Florida Property Management.
What do you do when your water heater breaks? Whether you are dealing with this issue right now and looking for guidance on how to tackle the problem or trying to update your level of emergency preparedness, this post will help you.
The steps below will teach you how to minimize the damage a broken water heater can do to your home.
Step one: Turn off the water supply
Your water heater has a cold water inlet pipe and a hot water outlet pipe. These two pipes are often located on the top of the water heater. You can identify the cold water supply line by the shut-off valve (usually a ball valve) on it. The arm of this valve will typically be in a position where it lines up with the cold water inlet pipe; this is the open position.
You want to turn the valve clockwise until the arm is perpendicular (ninety degrees) to the cold water pipe. If your cold water pipe has a gate valve instead, turning it to the right should close it. This step will keep more water from flowing into the tank and flooding your home.
Step two: Turn off the power or fuel
The next thing is to eliminate the risk of a gas fire or electric shock. You want to cut the power supply by turning the circuit breaker off if this is an electric water heater. For gas-powered water heaters, look for a dial on the top of the water heater and turn it until it is in a horizontal position (ninety degrees). If you cannot find the valve, turn off the gas at the gas line leading to your water heater.
There is a huge risk of electrocution when a water heater leaks. Please get in touch with your plumber if you are unsure how to turn off the power on an electric water heater. Also, if there is a gas smell in the room, even after you shut off the gas, please call a professional plumber.
Step three: Empty the water heater tank
At this point, you have turned off the water supply to the water heater and shut off the electricity or gas. But water is still coming from the tank onto the floor of your home. You want to get your garden hose and fix it to the drainage valve at the bottom of the water heater. Make sure the connection is tight, and then open the drainage valve.
You will need a screwdriver to open it if it is a ball valve. But you should be able to turn it by hand if it is a gate valve. Ensure the other end of the hose is at a low spot in your home where the water can be released safely. Open the T&P valve of the water heater to let air into the tank and help the water flow out of the tank freely.
Step four: Start cleanup
Once the above steps are completed, you can wait for your plumber to arrive. While you wait for the plumber, you may begin the cleanup process. The sooner you start this, the lower your repair costs will be. However, it is essential that you create a visual record of the damage caused by the event before you start the cleanup. This will be vital for filing your insurance claims.
Take detailed photos of the water heater’s damage to your home; floors, walls, furniture, etc. After, you may proceed to remove the salvageable items from the area. Depending on how long the leak had been going before you discovered it, you may be able to remove the water with a mop or have to rent a wet/dry vacuum. If necessary, hire a water damage restoration expert to handle the cleanup.
Step Five; File an insurance claim
Unless the accident happened because of your negligence (maybe you had prior warnings of the issues with your water heater), your insurance homeowners’ insurance should cover the cost of replacing the damaged items and fixing your home.
Even if the damage was minimal and you did not suffer any losses, you should still inform your insurer. The company will send an adjuster to your home to determine the cause of the accident and quantify the losses.