Water drips from a gas water heater. What is the right thing to do in this situation?

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Gas water heaters are an indispensable item for heating water. Why? It is much simpler than electric water heaters, and spends even less on utilities. Also, water is heated in those systems where there is simply no central heating. You are in no way dependent on utility companies and always have hot water at home - not life, but a fairy tale.

But what to do when water flows from a gas water heater and it doesn’t stop? In this article we will look at the main reasons why water drips from the column and how to deal with this problem quickly.

Is it possible to use a gas water heater if it leaks?

According to all technical standards, only fully functional equipment is allowed for use. This is especially true for gas equipment - you never know what can happen. Therefore, using the column when water is dripping from it is strictly prohibited.

What could be the consequences of turning on a broken heater:

• flooding the gas burner with water from the heating element - explosion and gas poisoning;
• non-critical breakdowns, but still undesirable - wear of gaskets or depressurization of connections will only lead to great negative consequences and a high price tag for repair services.

If a gas water heater is leaking due to the integrity of the water supply unit being damaged, it simply will not turn on. The ignition block and fuel valve are connected to the water supply system. No water - no work.

Why water drips from a geyser - the main reasons

Among the problems that occur with a boiler, only two main ones appear for everyone - they become the reason that water drips from the gas water heater. The malfunction is determined by a mutually exclusive method: if one option does not work, this is definitely problem number two. The nature of the situation is determined by the location of the leak.

For example, if a gas water heater is leaking from below, the problem is caused by a malfunction of the system gearbox. Water drips from the gas water heater in the form of condensation - it’s worth checking the heating coil.

Below we have described in detail each problem why water drips from a gas water heater:

Malfunction of the water supply unit - in this case we are talking about the gearbox. This is the simplest part that starts the gas supply mechanism (opens the valve) when a cold pipe is supplied to the device. Inside it is divided by a special membrane. When liquid is supplied to this part, it becomes heavier under pressure, opening the rod with fuel, and such a long-term pressure can cause a breakdown - no one is safe. There are several signs of a membrane rupture:

• water drips from the safety lever on the column - the membrane prevents liquid from getting through the coil, so it drips from wherever the seal has broken;
• a node is leaking - another situation in which the breakdown lies in the membrane. Initially, this does not affect the operation of the gas burner in any way, but the pressure increases and more and more water drips.

Problems with the heat exchange element - constant exposure to high temperatures on the coil (most often it is made of copper) leads to scale, corrosion and cracks. As a result, water drips from the geyser in the form of condensation accumulations throughout the body. It is impossible to accurately identify the location of a leak during an external inspection, and in places where the pipe is “broken,” the copper color changes to green - this can be seen.

A weak connection on the thread or a rupture of the rubber gasket is another third-party problem why a gas water heater is leaking. If you see water under the boiler, do not rush to crawl under the coil. Inspect all the levers and faucets - maybe the sealant has broken somewhere or a nut is not tightened tightly.

The gas water heater is leaking: what to do? First determine the root cause. To do this, the metal base of the gas boiler is removed and an initial inspection is carried out. Start global work only if you have definitely found the problem and can fix the leak yourself (do not forget to turn off the gas and water before disassembling the boiler installation).

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Water is dripping from the geyser - what to do and how to fix it at home

To begin with, we localize the breakdown through an initial inspection of the equipment. We remove the casing and check the integrity of the system. We found a problem - let's start repairing:

• If the threads or inserts are damaged, we will need a wrench and rubber gaskets for this. We will use a wrench to “pack” the weak nuts, and replace the inserts in place of the old ones. To improve the result, you can use silicone sealant.
• If a hose leaks, you need to buy and install a new one. The service life of the part is only a couple of years, so the device must be maintained regularly.And it won’t hurt to replace the rubber gaskets - it’s unknown when you’ll get inside the boiler unit again.
• The gearbox is covered - the inserts are replaced and a new membrane is attached. To do this, remove the “frog” (gas valve) and clean the housing. Then the gear part is replaced with new rubber seals. Also check all connections for dirt or debris - clean areas. Check the valve spring too - it should not be loose, otherwise the boiler simply will not turn on.

As you can see, these “machinations” do not require much effort or knowledge. Just a couple of keys and spare parts for the boiler will help solve the problem in just a couple of hours.

Gas water heater maintenance

If your device does not drip, but simply does not heat water or turns off, there are a few things to check:

1. Bring a match to the ventilation - perhaps gas is not supplied to the system;
2. Replace the batteries on the ignition if you have an electronic element;
3. Check the connections on the faucets - perhaps your problem will be in the water supply system, and not in the heater;
4. Clear soot and fumes from ventilation to improve gas access to the heating system.

What problems have you encountered when using a gas boiler? Let us know in the comments and share your water heater repair methods.