Why does the boiler flow and how to fix it

When a water heater flows, you need to find the source of the problem as soon as possible and fix it. If this is not done, the consequences can be the most unpredictable, and a lot of nerves and money will have to be spent on their elimination. A faulty boiler can cause flooding of not only your own apartment, but also the housing of neighbors, if you live in a multi-storey building. There is also a risk of electric shock.

Leakage from below

One of the most common breakdowns of devices is leakage from their upper or lower part of the water, which makes it impossible to operate the equipment normally. It is necessary to look for why the boiler has flowed after it is disconnected from the network and the water supply is shut off.

The most common causes of leaks

There are several reasons why a boiler is leaking. The ability to make repairs yourself depends on how quickly and correctly they are determined.

Outer sheath deformation

This problem may occur if you violate the rules for installing the boiler, and not through the fault of the manufacturer. Dripping water on the outer shell of a water heater can be seen almost immediately after installation. The thing is that there is no safety valve or it is broken.

Even after the use of the water heater was stopped and the water supply was shut off, hot water still remains in it.

When cooling the water, its volume decreases, and the tank of the device is compressed. After draining all the liquid from the system inside the tank, a vacuum occurs. If at this time the safety valve is broken or missing, the tank is deformed. Further, when filling the boiler and turning it on, the water expands, heating up, pressure increases, which leads to the bursting of the tank. Such malfunctions explain why the boiler is dripping.

Storage tank leak

If fluid flows through an eyeliner, it leaks a storage tank. Such a problem may occur due to gross violations of the installation or connection rules. When connecting a water heater, it is highly undesirable to use plastic pipes. If pipes of this type are nevertheless used because they look more attractive, hydraulic shocks will be transmitted to the tank, which will gradually destroy it.

Heating element leaking

Not all models have a special hole through which a drain of water is provided when the heater starts to flow. You need to check its availability when buying a boiler.

Safety valve leaking

This boiler element is a small tap in which there is a hole. The problem is easily fixed if you replace the part with a new one.

Leakage of the storage tank lid

If such a problem is observed, it may be a leakage of the heating element, which can provoke the accumulation of a large amount of scale.

Scale accumulation

After replacing the heating element, the problem will be fixed.

Leakage from under the heater seal or under its bolts

If water flows from under the seal, you just need to slightly tighten the nuts that secure it. In the second case, the replacement of the heater is required.

Lead channels loose

This is the most common reason why the boiler is flowing. It is not difficult to eliminate it, you just need to check all the connections.

Feed Connections

Leakage at the top without visual damage

When leakage appeared in the upper part of the water heater, and no deformations were detected during visual inspection, installation and connection were performed correctly, the magnesium rod was checked and changed, it is better to return such a device to the store until the warranty period has expired. Leakage can only be fixed if its tank is stainless steel.

The magnesium rod should change periodically. If you do not do this, the surface of the device will become unusable after some time, you will have to buy a new device.

Lack of maintenance

Too hard water or the presence of a large amount of impurities in it affects the quality of the boiler. During its operation, it is required to periodically carry out preventive maintenance, cleaning from contaminants and replacing worn elements.

Defective device or installation and connection rules are violated

In the first case, leaked equipment must be returned to the store until the warranty period has expired. You do not need to try to fix the leak yourself, because after that you will not succeed in returning the defective boiler under warranty. In the second case, you need to double-check once again how much all the points of the installation and connection instructions are followed.

Boiler installation

Can a leaky boiler be repaired?

After it was precisely established the reason why the water heater is leaking, you need to choose the optimal solution to fix the problem. Starting to search for the cause of the breakdown, you need to prepare the tools that may be needed in the process:

• hoses for outflow of water;
• screwdriver, adjustable wrench, tubular and socket wrenches;
• multimeter.

The boiler device is not as simple as it seems at first glance. If there are no specific skills, it is better to seek the help of specialists if a water heater leak is detected.

The first thing to do if a leak is noticed is to disconnect the device from the mains and drain all the water so that the tank is empty. Only after this can you begin the examination in order to establish the cause. Depending on what caused the leak, subsequent actions will be determined. In some cases, you can solve the problem with a simple repair, in others - you will need to change the boiler to a new one. It is better to do this until the warranty period has expired.

So, due to the leaks in the apparatus, in particular the tank, as evidenced by the appearance of water smudges from the joints of the pipes, it is impossible to repair it, therefore replacement is required.

Leaking from above, if all the rules of care were followed and the magnesium rod was changed in a timely manner, also requires replacing the boiler, because repair is not possible. Replacing the boiler will also be required in cases where the magnesium rod has not changed for a long time, which has led to the decay of the tank (if the inner surface is without enamel).

Tank rotting

Alteration of the water supply system is also necessary in cases where the rules for connecting the boiler to it are violated, especially when using plastic pipes and the absence of a special safety valve.

The boiler tank is operational when only the valve is flowing.

To eliminate the leakage of the tank lid of the heater, in most cases it is necessary to replace the heater.

If the tank itself is leaking, it is almost impossible to repair it, because the boiler is a monolithic structure, the inside of which is covered with enamel. If the enamel inside the water heater is damaged, it can no longer be repaired. In this case, you will need to buy a new boiler.

Life Extension Tips

For the longest possible life of the water heater without breakdowns, it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for its installation and use. This applies to any equipment that provides heating or water heating. When installing the boiler, it is important to provide grounding, a magnesium anode, and a safety valve.

1. Before installing the device, be sure to check what pressure in the system. Normal indicator: up to two atmospheres. If the indicator exceeds 3 atmospheres, this pressure must be reduced, for which a reducer is installed in front of the device, which will prevent the temperature from rising.
2. The optimum temperature for the boiler is up to 50 ° C; it is not recommended to set more than this value.
3. Periodically clean (2-3 times a year), it is important to monitor the condition of the rod.
4. It is recommended to connect the device to the water supply system through a special magnesium filter, which is best purchased at the same time as buying a water heating device. This will reduce the water hardness if they are very high or a large amount of impurities is present in the water.

If a boiler has flowed, you need to try to determine the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon as soon as possible and eliminate it. And in order to avoid breakdowns of this kind, it is necessary to follow the rules of operation of the water heater, periodically clean it, replace worn elements.