Leaking Water Heater Emergency: 5 Things to do NOW!

Help! My water heater is leaking, what can I do?

Leaking Heatesr are a DISASTER!! 

But Don’t Panic. 

KEEP CALM and Take These 5 Steps Right Now!

1. Shut OFF Power

Turn off the MAIN Heater Switch. It is easily within reach, usually outside your bathroom.

You don't want the leaking water to touch any electrical points and FRY them immediately.

This is the most important step. Do this before touching anything else.

2. Shut OFF Stop Valve

The STOP valve stops cold water from flowing into your heater tank. It has a twist knob.

If you stop the flow of water, you will stop the leak.

Where is this valve? (See mini stopcock valve below)
Trouble finding the valve?

It should be installed at the INLET or COLD pipe of the water heater.

If you are looking at the Outlet or the HOT pipe, that is the wrong pipe.

CAUTION: The hot pipe is HOT. Expect around 50ºC, which can scald. When touching pipes, always touch test for 1 second before placing your entire hand on it.

3. Figure Out WHERE the leak is coming from

Not all leaks mean your heater is spoilt. Here are 4 places you should check.

Who knows? You may be able to fix the leak on your own. Save yourself some money.

If your heater is above a false ceiling, it may be harder to check. Remember, SAFETY COMES FIRST. If you need help.. WhatsApp us.
Talk to an Expert Now
If you have easy access to your heater, here is where to look.
3-1. Relief Valve: This valve with the green lever is designed to drip water into the white tube. If the water tube has fallen off, plug it back in. Problem solved!

This valve may drip water even when the heater is OFF. It also releases pressure from the pipes.
3-2. Water Pipes: If your heater is newly installed, some pipes may be leaking. Check the hot and cold pipes, or pipe joints. Call your installer to fix.
3-3. Tank Leak: If you have used the heater for a few years, check the tank. Is there rusty water dripping out of the inlet or outlet? If the tank is leaking, you must replace it. It cannot be fixed. WhatsApp your pictures over.
3-4. Drain Valve: This is for landed floor standing heaters. If your heater is wall hung, you can skip this. If your heater has been serviced recently.. the drain valve may not be closed well. Twist to tighten.

4. Stop Using the Heater

If you have two bathrooms, use the other bathroom.

If your bathrooms are linked to the same heater and you must use water, turn your lever to full cold side while in use. Leaving it in the middle may make the leak worse. Using on full cold side will prevent further leaks and ceiling damage.
Even if the heater is off, and the stop valve is off.. the pipes can still leak.

Using water only from the cold water pipes will reduce pressure on the hot water side and reduce the leak.

Call in an expert for the earliest time slot to minimise leak damage. Leaking heaters are not a simple DIY job. If you need help, WhatsApp us.
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5. Don't Delay. Replace it Fast.

Trust me, all leaks start small.. but they get worse over a few days.

Don't wait until you have a waterfall and are frantically trying to call in favours to solve the mess.

Solve your problem fast before water damage costs you more. For instance, badly damaged ceilings with holes must be completely replaced. They can't be repaired. This will end up costing you more.

If you are lucky, calling early may land you a next-day appointment.

Need Fast Service? We're Here to Help!

We received very quick service when our old heater said goodbye. Our new heater was installed on the same day by Mahadi and Bee who were very thorough. They also took the time to explain to us how the digital part works and what would be the most efficient use for us.
Dinesh Velusamy
Google review
Great service and fast response! My old electric water heater broke down right before Chinese New Year and I needed urgent replacement. AOS Bath replied my enquiry really quickly and provided advice on which model was suitable for me. An installation was even done within the week despite wide spread lack of manpower. Stable hot water, and my water pressure is stronger now. I also recommended to my relative who installed too.
HM Tan
Google review
Installed and used for about 2 months now. Family members happy with the product. Previous water heater was not working and AOS was able to install the new heaters only two days after confirmation and payment. The staff is friendly and helpful
peter chang
Google review
Staff were prompt & really helpful as I was caught in an urgent situation. Experience was great and the work done was seamless & of good quality too. Thank you!
Athirah Mustaza
Google review

That's All You Need to Know!

Keep a Watchful Eye on Your Heater. It is a high wattage appliance. Taking care of it will keep you safe!!
Look out for Leaks: It is a high wattage appliance. Taking care of it will keep you safe.
tank flush maintenance yellow water
Maintain: to keep your heater in tip top condition, get an expert to check it every 3 years.
Listen out for loud sounds coming from the heater. Some thing may be amiss!

Leaking Water Heater FAQ

Should I replace my heater or repair it?
It helps to consider several factors before making a decision:

1. Age of heater
2. Cost of repair vs replacement
3. Frequency of repairs
4. How energy efficient is it?
5. Warranty

Still unsure? Read this article.
The earlier you reach out, the faster you will get help!

Minor Repairs take 1-2 hours. Replacement will take 2-3 hours. Major jobs can go up to 5 hours.

These are estimates for residential water heaters.
If the tank itself is severely corroded or has an internal crack, you should replace it rather than attempt a repair.

A severely damaged tank can't be reliably repaired, and continued use could result in further damage or flooding.

Other Posts

Avoid These 6 Warranty Pitfalls at All Costs

Beware of a Too-Good-to-be-True, Ultra Long Warranty!

Don’t be me. I learnt this the hard way buying my Samsonite luggage. Buying a "lifetime" warranty seemed like the best deal. Until I brought it in to change a part that fell out.

Then they pulled out this crazy list of terms and conditions that made me give up.

For appliances like water heaters, the concept is the same. Not all warranties are equal. Understand this before you buy. Know what to look out for. This will save you precious time and emotional frustration.

1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for a 'Full Warranty'. This is the Best Type of Warranty and Very Rare. Go for FULL Coverage Whenever Possible.

Full warranties are scarce and hard to find.

Good news is... 'hard to find' does not mean it is impossible to find.

You want this Full Warranty because it protects you more than it protects the company. That is the idea right?

You want to be fully covered to be exempt from paying for hidden costs. This needs to cover everything from labour, parts cost and transport. A full onsite warranty.

The only thing that is not covered are installation faults. But it is fair to exclude this from coverage. If your installer damaged the product because of his lack of skill.. then you go after the installer.

2. Don't Just Get Full Coverage... Get the LONGEST Possible Full Coverage.

When buying stuff at Harvey Norman, they always ask if you want to upgrade your warranty and add 2 to 5 years to it.

While it's always tempting to think, Nahhhh. I've already spent $5k on this fridge!! Why would I want to top up YET another $800 bucks for incidents I cannot forsee??

WELL. Life is about planning for incidents you cannot forsee. And from personal experience, Extended warranties have saved my wallet more than half the time. So grateful for buying the extension for the last few big-cap electronic purchases. I put my faith there!
In Singapore, the average lifespan of a heater is 5 years. This means many heater companies will give you a 1 Year Full warranty.

Better brands last longer, so they go up to 3 Years Full warranty.

If your home situation is long-term, aim for 3 years. You save more in the long run going for quality and the longest possible warranty coverage.

If I don't Have a 'Full Warranty'... What am I Getting?

If what you have on your hands isn't a full warranty... You may have a partial warranty.

In that case, you have to be extra careful.

Partial warranties cover only certain parts

3. Now Hang On Tight, Don’t Fall off Your Chair... We’re Coming to the Most Well Kept Secret About Partial Warranties..

Of course a partial warranty sounds appealing!! Who doesn't like the sound of a 10-year warranty? But they are misleading and even a tad dishonest.

Let me let you in on a secret. A 10-year warranty on a heating element might seem like a great deal.. but the industry secret is that the heating element rarely fails. It’s the other parts like wires and thermostats that will need repair sooner. If these aren’t covered, you could end up paying out of pocket for repairs.

Usually, companies who play this game are not interested in servicing you. They are excited to find out if you’ve exceeded your 1-year warranty. Then they can slap on some charges for back end sales. It's a horrible way to do business.

Be wary of those partial warranties!!
Heating elements are hardly ever replaced.. in all my years of being in the heater industry, I’ve only seen elements break down less than 5 times!!

4. Trust me on This, for Heaters.. Always Buy Local. Forget That Awesome Deal You Saw on Taobao.

Absolutely NO taobao for water heaters!! It will be the worst decision ever.

You need a local warranty. If there's a problem.. there is no way you can fix it yourself. You are not superman!!! Even if you ARE Superman, you have no Time!!

When you buy local, you're actually buying access to a valuable local support network.

I've heard horror stories of unapproved heaters bought online that fail at the worst times. Imagine: Chinese New Year no hot water?!! Your wife and kids are giving you pressure? Now good luck getting support over taobao chat.

Actually, at that point you’ll need more than luck to survive.

Don't ruin things for yourself. Always buy local when it comes heaters. Thank me later.
Heaters are one of the hardest appliances to troubleshoot.

5. Hidden Costs Here, Hidden Costs There, Hidden Costs EVERYWHERE!

If normal transport charges are $100+... Why are you getting charged $250????

I've heard this happen to people who are still locked in under their 'warranty period'. They can't go to a 3rd party to repair or their warranty may be void. It's a minor wire repair but they have to cough up hundreds $$$$$.

They are stuck in what we call a ‘bo-pian’ or no-choice situation.

It is downright dreadful, but sad to say.. This kind of back-end sales tactic has happened before and will happen again.

Out of frustration, some even decide to change their whole heater to another brand. It’s a good move because you avoid dealing with dishonesty.

On the other hand, it’s very expensive…

You can avoid this heartache by doing some homework. Buy from a reputable company.

6. Whenever Possible, Buy Direct from the Main Distributor

When I bought my first Dyson.. I went to a Reputable department store along Orchard Road. They were running a promo I couldn't resist.

Things went fine as long until my Dyson stopped working.. then the nightmares began. I got thrown around department after department of red tape.

Need to check invoice.
Need to look up sales person.
Oh.. Must send to HQ for inspection.
Now we need to order special parts.

It was a simple problem but so many layers of people and paperwork. Drove me nuts.
From that I learnt my lesson, always buy direct.

Now I get my Dyson from the main distributor. Their turnover is fast. I have absolute confidence I'm getting the latest version free from bugs and defects.

If they have issues with a model, they are upfront and transparent with me. Because I am their direct customer, they will take care of me first.
Response is also much faster!!

Sometimes, they also waive charges. Now, I'm not saying to go in with the expectation of free service. Everyone has to earn a fair wage. But I can feel the difference in the quality of customer service.

Same idea with water heaters. Want faster service? Buy direct.

7. Are You Serviced By a Bot or a Human Being?

Of course you can tell. Everything is different when it's a real person on the other end of the line.

Service is faster.

Arrangements are flexible.

You get accurate answers.

Because a real person understands your needs. A bot doesn't.

Conclusion

Singaporeans and hot water have a special relationship. We take it for granted when it is there, but we go crazy when deprived of it!!

Understanding your water heater warranty can make or break your hot water experience.

Hope the tips I’ve shared here on warranties will help you in some way!