Water Heater Leaks Can Cause Extensive Damage to Your Household

Most people have uttered the phrase, “it’s just water,” when talking about a spill. Water seems harmless, and if it spills, it can be easily wiped up. Leaks, particularly water heater leaks, are much more serious. They can cause severe damage to your home. It can also lead to difficulties for those who live in or visit the home.
Floors
Water damage to floors can make your living space uncomfortable or even unsafe to walk on. Leaks can result in cupping, bulging, and buckling of your flooring. Thise may cause injury due to tripping over uneven flooring. Serious water damage can even leak deeper into the structure of your floor, causing it to rot and weaken to the point of caving in when walked on.
Even if water damage does not result in making the floor difficult or unsafe to walk on, it may reduce your home’s resale value or attractiveness to renters due to unsightly or distracting stains in the kitchen, utility room, or bathroom.
Once the water heater has been allowed to leak on to the floor for an extended period of time, it will be necessary to pay for repairs. Repairing water damage to a floor can cost between $275 – 350 or more depending on the affected area.
In addition to replacing the flooring, any carpeting in the area will also need to be replaced at additional cost. While water heaters are not kept in carpeted areas of the home, the water can easily spread to carpeted hallways and rooms and destroy the carpeting.
Ceilings and Walls
Water heater leaks could cause similar damage to your home’s ceilings and walls. It may be necessary to replace drywall or patch a ceiling due to water damage.
Water damage to these parts of the home can result in bills ranging from $100 for a single ceiling patch to $300 or more for extensive damage.
The home repair web site “Cost Helper” estimates the cost of water damage to range anywhere from $1,355.13 to $1,670.50 per 120 square feet of damaged space. Visit CostHelper for detailed articles about specific repairs.
Health and comfort of Family and Friends
Mold can result from water being allowed to soak in to wood, carpeting, and other porous surfaces around your home. The least serious, but most immediately noticeable impact mold will have on people is the unpleasant smell. You may notice a wet or musty odor in certain rooms or throughout the house. Mold leaves an odor similar to that of wet laundry that never dries in the air.
Many people will have a much more serious reaction to mold. Those with weakened immune systems, allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues may experience eye and skin irritation, difficulty breathing, or wheezing. It is even possible to get a lung infection from mold.
Household Finances and Budgets
Water heater leaks mean more water is being consumed by the home. Many households are on a strict budget. They carefully research the cost of water usage in their home area and/or track their water usage for a set period of time and plan accordingly. A water heater leak can drive these costs up beyond the range household members can afford. Your personal possessions left in the path of the leaked water can also be damaged or ruined, resulting in additional unexpected costs.
Preventing Damage from Water Heater Leaks
The first step in preventing damage from water heater leaks is making sure your home has a top quality water heater installed. It may be tempting to visit a home repair store and select the cheapest water heater, but choosing to replace a an existing water heater, or purchase a new one, is an important decision. The cost of replacing a water heater can vary depending on five separate factors, including placement, size, and type of water heater. Visit southerplumbing.com for help choosing a new water heater.
Many people may also be tempted to install the water heater themselves. This can be a dangerous mistake. Attempting to replace any major appliance when you do not have the necessary training, experience, and tools can be deadly. Gas water heaters are especially dangerous due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your water heater may leak. The temperature pressure relief valve is a common source for water heater leaks. This will be a brass valve near the top of the water heater. The tank inlet or outlet is another common area for a water heater leak.
Should you notice water spraying from your water heater, or if you see water puddling around the area where the water heater is located, take immediate action. Turn the water to the home off if you notice extensive damage, smell a strong mold odor, or notice that water is moving toward electrical outlets or items that would be very costly to replace. Your next immediate step should be to contact a professional.
Southern Plumbing is your Houston area source for residential plumbing. The professionals at Southern Plumbing are here to evaluate, estimate, and perform all of your water heater repair and replacement needs. Call us at 855-252-3181 or schedule an appointment at www.southernplumbing.com.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control Official site: www.cdc.com
Cost Helper Web Site: www.costhelper.com
Home Wyse Web Site: www.homewyse.com
Water Heater Leaking info Web Site: www.waterheaterleakinginfo.com