Westminster, CO
(720) 296-7972
Afford-A-Rooter Plumbing
Free Quote

Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?

Standing water under the tank, a damp ring on the floor, or rust streaks running down the outside of the jacket.

This one can get worse fast. Call before it spreads.

(720) 296-7972Get a Free Quote

Key takeaways

  • This is an emergency. Shut things down and call a plumber now rather than waiting.
  • Most likely cause: Corroded tank.
  • Do this first: Close the cold water shutoff valve on the pipe entering the top of the heater.
  • Call right away if water is spreading across a finished floor or into a wall cavity.
  • The repair starts with: Isolate water and fuel to the heater.

What it is

Water heater leaking from the bottom A bottom leak on a water heater means water is pooling under or dripping from the base of the tank, most often because the steel tank has corroded through and can no longer hold water.

This needs immediate action because a corroded tank fails without warning, so close the cold water shutoff valve on top of the heater and cut its gas or breaker now.

The short answer

Water leaking from the bottom of a water heater usually means the tank itself has corroded through, and a corroded tank cannot be repaired. It has to be replaced. Before anything else, shut off the cold water supply valve on top of the heater and cut the gas or the breaker. A slow drip today can become a full tank on the floor within hours, so treat a bottom leak as urgent.

Call now, do not wait on a form

We answer 24 hours a day, every day, across the Denver metro.

(720) 296-7972

What it usually means

These are the causes we find most often, ranked from most likely to least.

  1. 1

    Corroded tank

    Most likely

    The steel tank has rusted through from the inside. Replacement is the only fix.

  2. 2

    Temperature and pressure relief valve discharging

    Common

    The valve is doing its job because pressure or temperature is too high. That is a system problem, not just a valve problem.

  3. 3

    Leaking drain valve at the base

    Common

    The plastic drain valve weeps after a flush or with age. Often a repair rather than a replacement.

  4. 4

    Condensation on a high efficiency or newly filled tank

    Less common

    Cold incoming water can sweat the tank. It clears once the water warms.

  5. 5

    Loose fittings above the tank draining down the jacket

    Occasional

    A supply connection leak runs down the outside and looks like a bottom leak.

What to do right now

  1. 1Close the cold water shutoff valve on the pipe entering the top of the heater.
  2. 2Turn the gas control to off, or switch off the water heater breaker.
  3. 3Move stored items away from the tank and protect flooring and drywall.
  4. 4Do not try to drain a hot tank. Let it cool or have a plumber handle it.

When it is an emergency

  • Water is spreading across a finished floor or into a wall cavity.
  • The leak is near an electrical panel, outlet, or furnace.
  • The relief valve is discharging hot water continuously.
(720) 296-7972

What the fix involves

A leak from a fitting or a drain valve is a repair. A leak from the tank body is a replacement, and the replacement is the moment to confirm the new unit is sized correctly, properly vented, and fitted with an expansion tank where code requires one.

  1. 1Isolate water and fuel to the heater.
  2. 2Trace the leak to the fitting, the valve, or the tank body.
  3. 3Repair the fitting or valve where the tank is sound.
  4. 4Drain and remove the failed tank and install the replacement to current code.

What drives the cost

Every job is quoted before work begins. These are the factors that move the number on this kind of repair.

  • Repair of a valve versus full tank replacement
  • Tank capacity and fuel type
  • Water damage cleanup and access in tight utility closets
  • Required code upgrades such as venting, pans, or expansion tanks
  • Emergency or after hours dispatch
(720) 296-7972

The service that fixes this

Emergency water heater repair in Denver

Fast shutdown and same day replacement options.

See the service

Water heater installation and replacement

Correctly sized and vented replacements.

See the service

Leak detection in Denver

When the source of the water is not obvious.

See the service

Related problems homeowners ask about

Read more on this

This page is for triage and dispatch. These guides go deeper on how the work is done and what shapes the price.

Licenses, credentials, and company proof

  • Colorado Master Plumber
    License MP-00189274
  • Colorado State Plumbing Contractor
    License 2110
  • Family Owned & Operated
    Serving Denver since 2006, 20 years
  • Better Business Bureau
    Accredited Business, A+ rating
  • Angie's List Super Service Award
    2012 through 2017
  • Serving Denver since 2006
    Residential and commercial properties across the metro

Tell us what is happening

Send the details and we will get back to you with next steps and a free quote. If it is urgent, calling is faster.

(720) 296-7972

Get A Free Quote

We reply fast. Same day when possible.

Name
Email
Phone Number
How did you hear about us?
What services are you interested in?
Message

Before you book: pricing, timing, and guarantees

Straight answers on what water heater leaking from bottom work costs, how fast we can get out, and what stands behind the repair.

More plumbing help from Afford-A-Rooter

Stop guessing and get it diagnosed

Family owned, licensed Colorado master plumbers serving the Denver metro since 2006.

Get a Free Quote(720) 296-7972
Call Afford-A-Rooter Plumbing at (720) 296-7972.