Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet
|

Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet – How to fix it? [3 Quick Ways]

If your water heater is not functioning properly, you might have landed yourself in big trouble. Especially when the cold water inlet is spotted leaking, no hot water faucets will work properly. So it is very important to keep checking your water heater before any damage may occur.

Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet

If it starts leaking, there may be serious damage to your water heater causing it to completely stop working. Well, if you have faced this issue and wondering to get a solution, this guide on Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet will surely help you to get the results that you desire.

Before you go for any solution, it is very important to diagnose the problem. You need to know where the leakage is causing. So here are the different causes of water heater leaking which you need to know.

1. Cold Water Inlet Valve

If any of the inlet or the outlet pipe starts leaking, there may be some water formation on the top of the water heater. So the first thing that you need to do is to check the cold water inlet pipe.

You need to look for a ball valve or gate valve which will allow you to turn off the water. This ball valve is responsible for cold water inlet to the pipe. So check for any leakage or damage to the ball valve.

Sale
LG 5220FR2075L Genuine OEM Water Inlet Valve for LG Washing Machines
  • The LG 5220FR2075L Water Inlet Valve is a genuine OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part designed and engineered to exact specifications
  • Replacement LG Washing Machine Water Inlet Valve controls the water flow into the washer
  • LG 5220FR2075L Washing Machine Water Inlet Valve is also called the Water Inlet and Dispenser Valve Assembly and operates on 110/120V and 60Hz
  • High quality LG OEM 5220FR2075L Washing Machine Water Inlet Valve is manufactured with premium materials for durability and exact fit, be sure to follow instructions in owners manual when installing this part
  • Life's Good when choosing Genuine LG OEM Factory parts for your LG appliances

2. Loose Pipe Fitting

It can be a common cause of water leakage in any water heater. They are the dielectric nipples which you can check if any water is leaking. Look closely at the hose of the pipes.

Because of loose fittings, you can have major leaks in the connection points. The problem can be simple with a loose connection which you may need to replace the fitting for it.

3. T&P Relief Valve

The Temperature and Pressure Valve is either located on the side of the tank or present on the top. This valve is responsible for dealing with the temperature and pressure of the water inlet. So if you notice any water leakage, it may be because the valve is broken or not working properly. In such a case, you need to get the valve replaced.

Sale
Camco Automatic Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve with Extension Probe and Lever | Features an All Brass Body with a Stainless Steel Pressure Spring | (10473), Silver/Pewter
  • Provides Protection: Helps protect your RV or home water heater from excess temperature and water pressure
  • Connection: ¾-inch NPT connection allows hookup to RV and home water heaters; Dimensions: 1 3/16-inch shank; 4-inch probe
  • Factory Setting: 150 PSI/210° Fahrenheit
  • Features: Extension probe is epoxy-coated to prevent corrosion buildup; Construction: All brass body with stainless steel pressure spring
  • Certification: CSA certified to ANSI Z21.22

What To Do Next?

If you find the major leaks in the Coldwater inlet of the heater, you need to quickly get to a solution for it. But for this, you can follow a few steps below to get a solution for it.

  1. The first thing that you need to do is to find any type of loose fittings in the pipe. Look particularly for the hose connections where water may dribble out of the pipe.
  2. Next up, turn the valve and twist it a little bit so that you can reset the water inlet and set it properly. This will allow a fresh flow of water inside the tank.
  3. If you find any type of corrosion or sediments formed, you need to clear them as well. If there are sediments formed, you need to replace the connections.
  4. If you still find any corrosion or water leakage around the pipe, it is time that you may have to change the cold water inlet pipe completely.

How to Replace a Cold Water Supply Connection?

  1. Turn off the heater completely and close all the hot water faucets in the home.
  2. To replace the pipe, you need to go for a pipe cutting tool which will help you to cut the pipe that you wish to replace.
  3. Clean your tank with a cloth and then completely drain the remaining water so that there is no overflow caused.
  4. Grab a three corner bite which will help you to get a hold of the pipe. Now you can turn the valve in a slow and controlled motion which will allow the pipe to get loose.
  5. Once it gets loose, you need to cut the join and take out the pipe. You can also check out what has gone wrong with the pipe.
  6. Replace the pipe with a new water inlet and simply join it with the dip tube. You can use strong duct tape to keep it fixed or solder it with the hose.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1. Will a leaking water heater explode?

A1. Small leaks are not a very big deal for any water heater, but if the water drops tend to increase, you may have a lot of problems. If it falls in the circuit board there may be major scopes of heater explosion. So before it explodes or causes serious damages, try to get it repaired.

Q2. Why would a water heater leak from the bottom?

A2. There is nothing but the tank itself present at the bottom. So if you are finding any leakage at the bottom, you need to check the tank. There may be major leaks from the tank which is just causing the water droplets to form below. Here is a separate article on hot water heater leaking from bottom.

Q3. What do I do if my water heater is leaking from the top?

A3. If the water heater is leaking from the top, there may be serious issues in the inlet water pipe or the PR valve. You need to run a complete diagnosis before finding an exact solution for your options.

Q4. Can I use hot water if my water heater is leaking?

A4. No, and this is a dangerous sign. If the water heater is leaking from the top or bottom, there may be a serious threat to use the heater any time longer. I such a case, you must ensure that you get proper treatment and diagnosis done before you use the faucet again.

Q5. What are the signs your water heater is going out?

A5. There may be several things that you may experience like running the heater for several hours but still, no hot water or even sudden supply of hot water is stopped. You may also check for signs of leakage around the water heater which will mean that your hot water is running out.

Sale
Camco Automatic Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve with Extension Probe and Lever | Features an All Brass Body with a Stainless Steel Pressure Spring | (10473), Silver/Pewter
  • Provides Protection: Helps protect your RV or home water heater from excess temperature and water pressure
  • Connection: ¾-inch NPT connection allows hookup to RV and home water heaters; Dimensions: 1 3/16-inch shank; 4-inch probe
  • Factory Setting: 150 PSI/210° Fahrenheit
  • Features: Extension probe is epoxy-coated to prevent corrosion buildup; Construction: All brass body with stainless steel pressure spring
  • Certification: CSA certified to ANSI Z21.22

Conclusion

If you are finding any type of leakage in your Water Heater, you must diagnose the problem first and then find the exact solution. However, it is never a good option for you to keep continuing running the Water Heater for several hours when you need the most.

This guide on How to Fix Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet will surely help you to get the solution you want. You can run a diagnostic to find out the exact problem on your inlet pipe. Sometimes, the problem may just be with the ball lever but if it a complete joining problem, we suggest you to replace the pipeline.

Similar Posts