Water heaters usually announce their end-of-life by suddenly leaking. As a result of a catastrophic failure, a lake of water beneath your water heater may require you to employ emergency cleanup and repair procedures in the area. Otherwise, water damage may become long-lasting and require more expensive mitigation. Taking the following steps to quickly responding to a water heater leak will help you minimize damage to floors and baseboards.

Fix the Leak

Before all else, you need to determine whether the leak is, in fact, the result of a total heater failure. An expert in water heater repair Pleasanton CA can assess your unit and make possible repairs; otherwise, your specialist will replace the water heater with the appropriate one for your needs.

Dry the Carpet

If the surrounding carpet has become saturated, you must quickly remove excess moisture then completely dry the pile. First, use a water-rated shop vac to suck up as much water as possible. Then turn on a box fan or rent a commercial air mover to circulate air over the carpet.

Repair the Floor

If your water heater rests on a wood floor, the leak can cause the floorboards to warp, crack or discolor. If you dry the floors quickly, you may be able to keep these conditions in check. Otherwise, minimally you will need to rewax the floor or strip it and apply a new stain. In the event that the wood bends or splits, you will have to replace at least a section of the floor and, perhaps, any damaged subflooring.

Repaint Baseboards

Soaked baseboards will show water stains. You may be able to get away with repainting the boards. Otherwise, you will need to pry away and replace damaged baseboards that show signs of rot or mold.

Water can dramatically damage home features. Unfortunately, a failing water heater can drop gallons of water underneath quickly. By acting quickly, you can keep the damage in check and minimize the efforts you will need to invest in floor and wall repairs.