From the bottom of the tank
Usually internal corrosion that has finally come through the cylinder. The tank has failed and is replaced.
LEAKING TANKS · VALVES · FITTINGS
Hot Water System Leaking Caboolture
A leak from a hot water system rarely gets better on its own. A drip from a valve can be a quick repair, while water weeping from the tank body means the cylinder has failed. Caboolture Plumbing and Hot Water finds where the water is coming from before quoting, so you are not sold a new unit for a valve.
QBCCLicensed plumbersLocalKing St, CabooltureBookOnline bookingLeakLocated before quoting
Repair or replace, diagnosed firstBook online or call
On the tools
Where the leak is tells us what is wrong
From the top
Inlet and outlet connections, valves and fittings. Loose or failed fittings are repaired.
From the relief valve
The temperature and pressure relief valve drips a little by design. A steady stream means the valve has failed or the pressure is too high. Never cap it.
From an instantaneous unit
No tank to corrode, but pressure fittings, inlet connections and the heat exchanger can leak. Gas and electric units are both repairable.
From a heat pump
The tank, the fittings or the condensate drain. Condensate water on the ground is normal; water from the tank is not.
From a solar system
Collectors, roof pipework or the cylinder. We check the booster and the anode while we are there.
Repair or replace?
Repair Usually a valve or fitting
- The leak is at a valve, a union or an inlet fitting
- The tank body itself is dry
- The unit is under about ten years old
- The fault is isolated and the rest of the system is sound
Replace Tank has failed
- Water is weeping from the tank body or the base
- The tank is well past its service life
- Rust in the water keeps returning
- The unit has had several repairs already
What to do right now
If water is running rather than dripping, turn off the cold water isolation tap on the pipe into the unit, and turn off the power at the switchboard or the gas at the unit. That stops the flow and protects the element. Then call, and tell us where the water is coming from.
A relief valve that drips a little after the tank heats is normal. One that runs constantly is not, and it must not be capped or blocked; it is the safety device that stops the tank over-pressurising.
What a leak call includes
What a leak call includes
We find the source before we talk about a new unit, and if the tank has failed you get the replacement options with prices on the spot.
- Every valve, fitting and the tank body checked for the source
- Relief valve and pressure tested
- Repair priced first where the tank is sound
- Replacement options priced where the tank has failed, with removal included
How it works
1
Call or book online
Tell us the system type, roughly how old it is and what it is doing. Send a photo of the rating plate if you can.
2
Check the unit
The plumber tests the element, thermostat, valves or burner and looks at the tank and the connections before saying repair or replace.
3
Options and prices
Repair is priced first. If the unit is not worth repairing, you get the replacement options with their prices before deciding.
4
Fix, test, hand over
The repair or the new unit is installed, tested with water running and explained. The old unit leaves with us on a replacement.
Questions answered
My hot water tank is leaking from the bottom. Can it be fixed?
Usually not. A leak from the base of a storage tank almost always means the cylinder has corroded through, and cylinders cannot be repaired. We confirm that on site before quoting a replacement.
Is a dripping relief valve dangerous?
A slow drip while the tank heats is normal. A constant flow means the valve has failed or the pressure is too high, and both need looking at. Never cap or bypass the valve.
Can I keep using the system while it leaks?
For a small drip from a valve, yes, until the plumber arrives. If water is running or the tank body is leaking, turn the water and power or gas off and stop using it.
Will you replace it on the same visit?
When a common size is on the van or available locally, often yes. We say what is possible when you call rather than promise it here.
Hot water system leaking in Caboolture?
Turn the water off at the unit, then call 1300 568 203 or book online. Tell us where the water is coming from.