A puddle under the water heater is one of those discoveries that ruins a Saturday. The good news: not every leak means a new unit. Here are the five causes we see most across Cincinnati, roughly from cheapest to priciest.
1. A loose drain valve
The spigot near the bottom of the tank can weep if it's slightly open or worn. Try gently snugging it closed. If it still drips, the valve itself is a few-dollar part — an easy fix.
2. The temperature & pressure relief valve
The T&P valve on the side is a safety device that releases water if pressure gets too high. Occasional discharge can mean excess pressure in your system; constant dripping means the valve — or the pressure problem — needs professional attention. Never plug it.
3. Inlet and outlet connections
The hot and cold fittings on top loosen with years of heating and cooling cycles. Water running down the outside of the tank often starts here, not at the bottom where you find it.
4. Sediment and internal corrosion
Cincinnati's hard water builds scale at the bottom of the tank. That popping or rumbling you hear is water boiling under a sediment layer — and over years it corrodes the tank from the inside.
5. The tank itself
If water is seeping from the body of the tank, the inner liner has failed. There is no repair for this one — it's replacement time, and sooner is better than after it lets go entirely.
What to do right now
- Turn off the water supply (the valve on the cold line above the heater).
- For gas: set the control to "off." For electric: flip the breaker.
- Put a pan or towels down, and call a plumber.
We install most replacement water heaters same-day, with haul-away included — and right now there's $100 off any water heater installation.