Home emergency playbook
Water heater tank is leaking
Conservative first steps for homeowners before cleanup, repair, or contractor dispatch. When safety is uncertain, leave and call first.
Immediate steps
- Close the cold-water inlet valve on top of the heater or on the pipe feeding it.
- For gas, turn the control knob to OFF; for electric, switch off the labeled water-heater breaker from dry footing.
- Attach a hose to the drain valve only if it can run downhill to a safe floor drain or exterior discharge point.
- Call a plumber for replacement planning when water comes from the tank bottom or a rusted seam.
Do not do this
- Do not cap, plug, or tie shut the temperature-and-pressure relief valve or its discharge pipe.
- Do not stand in hot water while reaching for controls, hoses, or breakers.
- Do not rely on epoxy, tape, or putty for a leaking tank shell.
Who to call
- Call 911 if anyone is injured, trapped, in medical distress, or if fire, shock, collapse, or active crime is present.
- Call the utility emergency line before private repair when gas, electric service, public water, sewer main, or buried lines may be involved.
- Call a plumber for pipe, fixture, water heater, sewer, or private water-line repair after immediate hazards are controlled.
Damage mitigation
- Move boxes, cat litter, stored paint, and soft goods away from the heater platform or pan.
- Use towels around the drain pan edge so water does not run under finished flooring.
- Photograph the rating plate, leak point, drain pan, and nearby damaged materials before removal.
Prevention
- Install a drain pan with a clear drain or alarm wherever a heater sits above finished space.
- Flush sediment and inspect the anode schedule according to the manufacturer and water quality.
- Replace tanks showing rust at seams, bulging jackets, or repeated relief-valve discharge.
Typical cost band
Usually moderate to high; replacement, fuel controls, and water damage can overlap.
Insurance note
The appliance replacement is often excluded while sudden water damage around it may be reviewed; keep the plumber's failed-tank diagnosis.
Related ProFix resources
Plumber emergency guideTrade-specific dispatch, utility-first, and after-hours cost guidance.Troubleshooting encyclopediaSymptoms, maintenance intervals, contracts, and warranty norms.National FAQHiring, licensing, scams, permits, and DIY boundaries.Cost calculatorPlan the permanent repair after the emergency is controlled.