Although you use them every day, you probably never think about how your water heater can cause water damage. While most will last six to twelve years, your water heater can wear out faster. A water heater flood is the most common cause of water damage. If the tank rusts or one of the valves fails, it can flood your basement or utility room with hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water. We look at how to clean up a water heater flood.
How To Clean Up a Water Heater Flood
A water heater flood can cause extensive flooding, especially if it goes undetected for a long time. Whether caused by a valve failure or a rusted-out tank, water will continue to flow out of the water heater until shut off.
Also, hot water does more damage than cold water and can destroy drywall, cabinets, and carpeting. Begin cleanup as soon as possible to limit structural damage.
- Shut the Water Off – Turn off the water at either the main shut-off valve or the valve at the top of the water tank. This will stop the flow of water out of the water heater.
- Extract Standing Water – Use a submersible pump or wet-dry vacuum to remove the standing water. For the fastest results, rent a high-volume submersible pump from your local equipment rental company.
- Remove Damaged Materials – Remove and dispose of items that are damaged or destroyed by the water. This may include drywall, cabinets, floor, and personal items.
- Dry the Structure of Your Home – Dry the structure of your home with air movers and dehumidifiers, available at most equipment rental companies. Household fans will work, but they will take significantly longer to dry the area.
- Disinfect and Deodorize – Disinfect using a cup of bleach per gallon of water. Open windows and use fans to deodorize the area. Alternatively, sprinkle baking soda around and then vacuum up after an hour.
- Rebuild – Depending on the damage, you may need to repair or replace walls, flooring, or cabinets.
What Causes a Tank to Flood?
Any water tank failure can result in a flood. Although uncommon, a rusted-out tank is likely to cause the most significant damage. The tank can rust out if it’s extremely old or if the outside of the tank gets wet regularly. If the tank rusts out, it can release a large amount of hot water quickly.
A more likely cause of a flood is drain valve failure. The drain valve allows you to drain your tank if you need to flush or service the unit. Accidental damage can cause the valve to fail. However, it can wear out over time as well. Since the valve is small, it will limit the amount of water that can come out at once.
Each unit also has a fill switch that limits how much water will enter the unit. If the switch fails, water will continue to enter the tank even if it’s full. This can cause a water heater to flood through the overflow pipe. As with a drain valve failure, this will release water more slowly. However, it still can cause major flooding.
If you have a flood after a hot water tank failure, our restoration specialists are here to remove the water and repair the damage fast. Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a free quote on water damage cleanup near you.
