How Water Heaters Work:
To heat the water, the current passes through electrical-resistance heating elements—usually two, one at the middle of the tank and one at the bottom. When a hot-water tap is opened, cold water enters the tank through the dip tube and the drop in temperature triggers the thermostat and heating element at the bottom.

Hot Water Tank Leakage

What do you do when a hot water tank starts to leak? Here are some steps to take and help prevent any further damage when your hot-water tank begins to leak:

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Turn the tank off - When a hot water tank begins to leak, the first step is to turn it off. This means if it's a gas unit, turning the thermostat to "OFF" and if it's an electric unit, turning it off at the circuit breaker.
Shut off the water - Shutting off the water will help stop the leak temporarily until repairs to the tank can be made or a replacement installed. The tap-water shut off valve will typically be on the right side of the tank. Turn it to the right to shut off the water flow into the hot water tank.
Drain the water heater tank - To do this, locate the drain valve on your hot water tank and attach a garden hose. Place the end of the hose into a floor drain or sum pump pit, then open the valve. Safety Note: Be careful! Always use caution when draining a hot-water tank as the water coming out might be hot!
Break the vacuum - Your tank may not have a lot of water draining from it at first. This is common and perfectly normal. In order to help the tank drain, you will need to break the vacuum created by closing the tap-water valve. To do this, you need to open a hot-water valve completely in one of your house sinks. Doing so will allow air into the tank to push the remaining water out of both your pipes and the tank.

Once you have prevented further leakage by following these steps, your final step should be to call Super Rooter Plumbing and Sewer! Our trusted professionals will help diagnose and resolve any leakage or other issues you may be having with your hot-water tank. We also specialize in new hot-water tank installations. The Super Rooters are here to help save your day!