What to Do When the Water Heater Leaks

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

A leaking water heater in your San Diego home can cause a lot of damage and time is a critical factor for cleaning

You just got back from the grocery, with your arms full of bags, when you open the garage door and see water everywhere. You follow the path and realize that you have a leaking water heater. Well, put the milk in the fridge and read this quick guide for some immediate steps to take before the water remediation specialists arrive.

Safety First

Whenever there is a leak in your home in San Diego, you should first mitigate your personal injury risk. Be sure to turn off the electricity at your main circuit breaker panel before doing any cleaning around the broken water heater. Also think of electrical areas you may not be able to see, realizing that anywhere the water has contacted electricity, including wiring in the walls or under the floor, is dangerous. Once the electrocution risk is eliminated, also be careful to avoid slipping and falling from the water.

Stop the Leak

Now that you've turned off the power, you can turn off the cold water supply that leads to your leaking water heater. Usually, the valve on the water supply pipe is the only thing you will need to turn off, but if you can't access that area, you may need to turn off your main household water supply.

Start Cleaning

It's very important to thoroughly clean the water as quickly as you can. Here are few things you can do to clean the mess from the failed water heater while you wait for restoration professionals to arrive:

• Remove excess water with mops and rags.
• Remove smaller fixtures and furniture from the water and wipe them dry.
• Protect furniture legs by putting wooden blocks or aluminum foil underneath.
• Remove personal belongings from the water.
• Increase airflow in the room by running fans and turning up the air conditioning.

A leaking water heater can cause a lot of damage and time is a critical factor for cleaning. You'll need to carefully follow instructions from the professionals to avoid complications, such as further contaminated water from exposure to hazardous chemicals or microbes. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROspringvalleyjamul.com/.