One of the worst things that could happen to anyone is when their water heaters in Utah break without warning. What will you do then? Water heater repair can be expensive. Not doing anything to address it will only make matters worse. Not only should you worry about water damage, but mold infestation can become a reality, too. But don’t fret! The only way to solve this problem is to remain calm.
Here are the things that you need to do as soon as you find out that your water heater is leaking:
1. Stop the water
Find the cold-water supply pipe. Locating the pipe should lead you from the main water line and into the topmost portion of the water heater. See if the water stops flowing once the tanks are full. It only means that the water heater is working correctly.
However, if the tank pushes the water out into the room, it just means that the water heater has already burst. If this is the case, then it’s best to turn off the cold water supply line by carefully twisting the valve in a clockwise rotation. Doing so will help stop the water flow.
2. Turn off the power
Now that you’ve completely stopped the water flow, it’s time to shut off the power that runs the system. Leaving it on can cause even more problems. Not only will it waste energy, but it can also start a fire right inside your home.
The heating element automatically shuts itself off once the water reaches a specific temperature. However, if a faulty thermostat caused your water heater to get damaged, then there’s a considerable chance that it won’t shut itself off.
3. Drain the water
Once you’ve already shut off your home’s main water supply, you can now drain the water heater with a hose attached to the drain valve. Get the other end of the hose to a lower area where you can drain the dirty water.
4. Clean up
As soon as all the water is gone, you can now try to remove any salvageable furniture, documents, or boxes from the area. You can take photos of all damaged items, as well as the floors, wall, and other fixtures soaking with water.
These photos will play a vital role to help your homeowner’s insurance company determine the cost to replace or repair the damaged items. You can also use a wet-dry vacuum to get rid of any standing water in the area. You should also run a dehumidifier to help prevent mold infestation.
5. File an insurance claim
After you’ve cleaned the area, you can contact your insurance company to file a claim. The insurance company will send out a team of experts to restore the area by drawing any excess moisture from the walls and flooring.
These are only a few tips that you can consider as soon as you discover your broken water heater. The mere sight of it can be overwhelming at first, but rest assured that everything will quickly get fixed as soon as you determine the root cause of the problem. You should always check your water heater for signs of mold or damage before anything like this happens.
