Repairing any appliance that runs on gas or electricity is dangerous. As such, it is highly recommended that you do not, under any circumstances, perform water heater repairs at home. You may exacerbate the problem or, in the most extreme cases, put yourself in potential danger.
Dangers of DIY Water Heater Repairs
Regardless of whether you have a tank or tankless water heater in your basement, tampering with any of the connections, valves, or piping is never a good idea if you do not know what you are doing. Your water heater is built to contain and move large volumes of water. Attempting to readjust or repair your water heater yourself can make a minor leak become a major one. This can lead to intense basement flooding, resulting in even more costly damages.
Furthermore, if your water heater is located near any electrical appliances or units, DIY repairs can cause water to enter these electrical areas. This can potentially spark electrical connections and cause an electrical fire.
How to Maintain Your Water Heater at Home
While you may not be able to repair leaking water heaters in your basement yourself, you can certainly try to maintain them after getting them fixed. Sediment will inevitably collect in your water heaters. Flushing out sediment from your water heater will increase its longevity and prevent internal leaks or damages. You may want to contact a contractor to do this for you initially so that you can learn how to so safely and properly. However, even something seemingly simple as flushing out your water heater has its risks for increasing damages, so if you are uncomfortable doing this, rely on the experts to help you.
You should also perform routine checks of your water heater’s connections, valves, and piping. While they are certainly built to last, they can still experience wear and tear. Check to see if any parts are leaking. They may need to be replaced.