How To Remedy A Leaking Water Heater

3/11/2021 (Permalink)

When faced with a leaking water heater, it can feel like a whirlwind of shock and confusion while you try to figure out how to remedy the problem. Repairing water damage is costly, and you often have only a short amount of time to successfully protect your home and resolve the issue, especially to avoid lingering problems like microbial growth. Here are the first steps you need to take to deal with a failed water heater.

1. Shut Off the Main Water Supply

Shutting off the water as soon as possible ensures that no additional water floods your home. Otherwise, the water will just keep pouring in from the leaking water heater.

2. Call a Professional

If you are concerned about how much water impacted flooring and walls, it will be important to procure an expert’s help with water removal. Your local specialists at SERVPRO of Lynnwood will have the necessary insight and equipment to ensure that all water and hidden moisture from the broken water heater is safely removed. This will diminish the risk of mold or rot from water damage.

3. Dry the Area

While you are waiting for your local water damage restoration professionals to arrive, you want to make sure you have no standing water ruining flooring and furniture, so do your best to dry the area thoroughly. This includes setting up industrial-sized fans, removing furniture and opening windows to encourage air flow.

4. Clean Where Necessary

Thankfully, water from your leaking water heater is classified as “category 1,” meaning it’s clean water. With category 1 floodwaters, there isn’t usually a pressing need to sanitize after a flooding situation. You’ll still want to clean and dry any affected furnishings to prevent microbial or musty smells. 

In short, if your water heater malfunctions, shut off the water, call for backup: 425-774-1148 and do what you can while you wait. By acting quickly and being prepared, you can set yourself up for a fast restoration process. Visit http://www.SERVPROlynnwood.com for more information on water damage.