Hot Water Heater Leaked? No Problem!

11/12/2024 (Permalink)

Water Damage from Hot Water Heater Leaks Prevalent Among Many

 Hot water heater leaks are one of the most common plumbing issues in people’s homes across the country. These leaks can happen at any time whether you are away or at home. Sometimes Hot water leaks can be preventable when a homeowner notices the signs of deterioration to the tank.

Here are the Signs that your Tank may need an Inspection-

1. Rust forming at the top and or at the bottom of the tank. If you see rust on the top, bottom, or anywhere on the hot water heater... It is time to get the tank inspected for replacement. The longer you wait, the more corrosion will take place and the potential for water loss will grow.

2.Copper oxidation, which is when the copper popes that come into the tank start to turn green. This occurs because of exposure to air and water over a long period of time. This oxidation process can cause corrosion to the pipes and sprout leaks if not replaced.

3. Lack of hot water, if you are experiencing a lack of hot water from the sink, tub etc. Check the tank and the surrounding areas and there could be a flood

We are Pass the Replacement of the Tank, and the Basement is now Flooded. Now What?

1. Turn off the tank, while this may not stop all water leakage from a hot water heater it may stop some.
2. Move all contents out of the waters touch. If there is nowhere for the furniture to go, place the legs on blocks to lift it out of the water. The longer the items sit in the water the more damage occurs.
3. Don’t Panic and Call your Local SERVPRO® franchise, we are trained in water restoration of all nature. We will refer you a plumber and send out a team of trained technicians to assist in drying out your home.
4. Call that plumber, save the faulty piece or take a picture and keep it for insurance company for review.
5. Floods from hot water heaters can be expensive. Reach out to your insurance company to see if this is something they can assist you with.

You Called SERVPRO of Perry Hall, now What?

Whether you call the SERVPRO National number or the local number we are always here to help. SERVPROs’ across the country are well trained in water damage, fire restoration, Mold remediation and many more.

SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh can walk you step by step of what to do when faced with a hot water heater leak. After the plumber has been called, insurance has been called, we will head out to your home to begin the mitigation process.

     This process includes detailed documentation to the insurance company and to the homeowner.

 Documentation includes photos (before, during, and after), drying log structural materials, line item estimate that is used nationally among insurance contractors.

Our team will assess, the damage to structural materials and decide what can be dried and what needs to be demoed.

Once the demolition portion is completed, we set drying equipment to dry the structure.

After the structure has been dried, we can line up a repair estimate for your home.

Once the repair estimate has been confirmed by the insurance company, we then can schedule you for the repairs!

  So, if you do not know where to start, start with a call to SERVPRO.