The most common causes are a discharging temperature and pressure relief valve, a loose or failed drain valve, corroded inlet and outlet connections, condensation mistaken for a leak, and — the serious one — a corroded tank. Where the water is coming from tells you whether this is a repair or a replacement.

Find the Source First

  • Top of the tank. Usually the cold inlet or hot outlet connection, or the T&P valve. Both are repairable.
  • The T&P valve or its discharge pipe. This valve is a safety device. If it is discharging, either it has failed or the system is genuinely over-pressurized or overheating — and that second possibility needs diagnosis, not just a new valve.
  • The drain valve at the bottom. Often just loose or worn, and inexpensive to replace.
  • Around the base, from the tank itself. This is the bad one. A corroded tank cannot be repaired and means replacement.
  • Condensation. On a newer unit, especially in a cold garage, moisture on the outside can look like a leak and is normal.

Why Tanks Corrode Early in Albuquerque

Hard water is the underlying driver. Mineral sediment settles on the tank bottom and insulates the burner from the water above it, so the burner runs longer and hotter — stressing the glass lining until it cracks and the steel beneath begins corroding. Meanwhile the sacrificial anode rod, which is supposed to corrode instead of the tank, gets consumed and is almost never replaced because most homeowners do not know it exists.

High Water Pressure Is a Frequent Culprit

Excess incoming pressure stresses the tank and causes the T&P valve to weep. If your home does not have a working pressure reducing valve, or it has failed, that is worth checking — it damages fixtures and supply lines too.

What to Do Right Now

Shut off the water supply at the valve above the heater. Turn off the gas or the breaker. If it is leaking significantly, a failed tank can dump 40 to 50 gallons onto your floor, so do not wait to see whether it gets worse.

We offer same-day and emergency service. Contact B. Carlson for water heater repair in Albuquerque.