Close the cold-water valve on the pipe going into the top of the tank. Turn the gas control to off, or switch off the breaker for an electric heater. If water keeps coming, shut the main. Then call (413) 603-1274. Do not drain or touch a tank that is still hot.
Signs your water heater failed
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rusty or brown water around the heater or from hot taps
- Water dripping from the relief valve pipe on the side
- Popping or rumbling from the tank, then a leak
- No hot water and a wet floor
A small drip from the relief valve or a fitting can be repaired. Water coming from the tank itself means the tank has rusted through and has to be replaced. Not sure which you have? See water heater leaking: is it an emergency.
What to do in the next 10 minutes
- Shut the cold-water valve above the tank. If it will not turn, shut the main.
- Turn off the energy. Gas control to off, or the electric breaker off.
- Keep clear of hot water. A fresh leak can be scalding.
- Stay out of standing water near outlets and the electrical panel.
- Photograph the heater, the label and the water.
- Call us. (413) 603-1274.
One call: water out, plumbing fixed, basement dried
A failed 40 or 50 gallon tank empties fast, and the cold line keeps refilling it until someone shuts the valve. That water spreads under storage, into finished walls and against the boiler. We handle it as one job:
- Remove the standing water. Pumps and extractors.
- Make the plumbing safe. Leaking valves and connections fixed, the line capped if the tank has to come out.
- Get you hot water back. We tell you plainly whether the heater can be repaired or needs replacing and give you the price first.
- Dry the basement. Walls, framing, carpet pad and anything finished, checked with moisture readings.
- Check nearby equipment. A boiler or furnace that got wet should be checked before it runs.
Water heaters in Chicopee basements
In most Chicopee homes the water heater sits in the basement next to the boiler and the main water line. In two- and three-deckers there may be one heater per unit, sometimes three in a row in a shared basement, so a leak from one can soak the storage and equipment of the others. Many homes here heat water off the oil or gas boiler instead of a separate tank, and those connections can leak too.
Tanks usually last around 8 to 12 years. If yours is older and showing rust at the base, it is worth replacing before it fails on a winter night.
Is a burst water heater covered by insurance?
The water damage from a sudden tank failure is often covered by a homeowners policy. The heater itself usually is not, because it wore out. A tank that leaked slowly for weeks may be treated differently. Take photos, keep the old tank until the adjuster says it can go, and see slow leak vs sudden burst. General information only.
Repair or replace the heater?
A leak from a fitting, a valve or the relief valve line can usually be repaired. A leak from the tank itself cannot, because the steel inside has rusted through. Before you agree to a replacement, ask to be shown where the water is coming from. If the tank does need replacing, the new one should go on a stand or pan with a drain where possible, so the next leak goes to a drain instead of across the floor. A leak sensor next to the tank is cheap and warns you early.
Water heater questions
Can I still use water in the house?
If the cold valve to the heater closes fully, yes, you will have cold water everywhere else. If you had to shut the main, call us and we can isolate the heater so the rest of the house has water.
Is a leaking relief valve dangerous?
The valve is there to release pressure. If it drips often, the pressure or temperature may be too high, or the valve has failed. Do not plug it. Have it checked.
How fast should the basement be dried?
Start the same day. Mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials, and warm water from a heater speeds that up.
Who pays in a rental?
Building equipment like a water heater is usually the landlord's responsibility. Tenants' belongings fall under renters insurance. See who pays in rentals.
Water heater burst? Call now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee: we handle the water, the plumbing and the drying in one call. See areas we serve.