If you have a gas water heater turn off the gas supply.
Gas water heater leaking from top.
Rain water when rain water travels down the flue vent pipe of a gas water heater it can collect on the top of your tank.
However if not fixed promptly these types of leaks can lead to serious and costly damage as water travels down the exterior of your water heater.
Many water heater tanks have their temperature and pressure relieve valve positioned on the side of the tank.
So let s look at some of the most common reasons your water heater is leaking at the top.
Have a professional inspect your tank to determine the issue.
Once you identify that a leak is still currently happening immediately turn off the power source to avoid any electrical issues.
If there is water leaking from the piping attached to the t p relief valve and also from the open end of the pipe there s most likely too much pressure in the water heater or the water is too hot.
A leak that is originating from the top of a water heater if caught in a timely manner is almost always repairable.
Rainwater can be blown in from outside.
However some models have these valves located on the very top of the machine.
This can happen especially during a storm with high winds.
If your hot water heater is designed like this then this could be a reason your water heater is leaking at the top.
Then observe where the water starts to come from.
On the other hand water runs downhill so failure to fix the leak can lead to more serious problems including electrical shorts additional damage to the water heater and the possibility of water damage such as ruined carpeting or drywall.
Common trouble areas 1 loose fittings look closely at the water inlet and the outlet fittings.
If you have a gas hot water heater leaking from the top one possibility is related to rain.
Frequently when a water heater leaks from the top it s a fixable problem.
That metal vent on top of your gas water heater extends through your house to your roof.
Using paper towels wipe down the wet areas on the top of your water heater so it s dry.
This is a common area where water leaks and you ll generally see the leak at the point where the fittings meet the water heater.