If the leak is just a few drops then you can wait a day or two and see if the leak continues.
Electric water heater leaking from top.
A leak that is originating from the top of a water heater if caught in a timely manner is almost always repairable.
Now take a garden hose and attach it securely to.
Most homes have a dedicated circuit breaker for an electric water heater and some were built with an easily accessible secondary shut off in the vicinity of the heater itself.
If your hot water heater is leaking from the top follow these tips faulty water inlet valves.
In most cases when a water heater is leaking from the top it s usually pretty easy to pinpoint to leak.
Check the plumbing pipes above the water heater using a stepladder if necessary.
2 connection that generates cold water.
Water heater is leaking from pressure relief valve if the water heater is dripping from the top then all you have to do is replace the pressure relief valve.
If your valve is located on the top of your water heater like in the picture below check to see where it s leaking from.
Find the cold water inlet valve.
3 connection that releases pressure.
The valve is usually a lever or a knob type valve.
Sometimes valves in these overhead pipes can begin to secrete water and of course gravity brings it down.
To do this locate the cold water shut off valve on the pipe.
However if not fixed promptly these types of leaks can lead to serious and costly damage as water travels down the exterior of your water heater.
1 connection that generates hot water.
The first place to check is the plumbing pipes above the water heater.
A drip from above can easily leak down on top of the water heater and even work its way down the insulation and make it look like the leak is coming from the tank itself.
One of the most common reasons your hot water heater may be leaking at the top could be due.
If you suspect that you have a leak from the top turn off the power to your water heater.
Sometimes the pressure relief valve will leak if it was opened for the very first time.
The first thing that you should do is go to your electrical panel and turn off the breaker that is marked water heater.
Leaks from the top of the water heater are usually caused by one of the three connections at the top as shown in the diagram below.
If it hasn t rained in awhile or you have an electric hot water heater leaking on top then carefully check the copper plumbing directly above your tank.
For a gas water heater turn the thermostat control to the off position.
Two places it may be leaking from include.
Your pipe fittings are loose.
The next step is to shut off the water supply to the tank.