Tankless Water Heater Repair & Installation in Dunwoody, GA

A puddle under a tankless water heater does not always mean the heater itself is leaking. The water could be coming from the service valves, the relief valve, a condensate line, the vent or the heat exchanger inside the cabinet, and each source has a very different fix. For Dunwoody homeowners, a few minutes spent tracing where the water starts can make the repair conversation much clearer. If your heater is a tank model, our Georgia water heater overview is the better starting point.

First steps when you find water

If water is actively running, close the cold water valve feeding the heater, usually a handle on the lower pipe beneath the unit. Turn off the gas valve to a gas unit or the breaker for an electric one, and keep cords and outlets dry. Put down a pan or towels and take photos before wiping anything up. If the leak will not stop or the valve will not close, shut the main water valve to the house and call our emergency plumbing line.

Tracing the source

• Service valves and unions: drips at the fittings under the heater, often from a loose union or worn valve packing.
• Relief valve: water from its discharge pipe can mean the valve is faulty, or that pressure is too high.
• Condensate: on condensing units, a blocked trap or drain can overflow, and that water is usually cool.
• Vent: condensate running back down a poorly sloped vent may drip at its joints.
• Inside the cabinet: water from behind the cover usually points to the heat exchanger or an internal fitting.

Water from the relief valve deserves attention rather than a bucket. A valve that weeps once may have caught debris, but repeated discharge can signal high water pressure; if a gauge shows high static pressure, our water pressure and PRV service can address it.

Repairs for each source

Fitting leaks are often fixed by tightening or resealing a union or replacing a service valve. A faulty relief valve is replaced, and its discharge line is checked for proper routing. Condensate problems call for clearing the trap and line, correcting the slope or replacing a failed pump. Leaks inside the cabinet take more investigation: some internal fittings and seals are serviceable, but a heat exchanger that has cracked from freezing or corroded through usually means replacing that part or the whole heater.

When the leak has spread

Tankless units are often mounted in closets, garages, basements and attics, and a slow leak can wick into drywall, subfloor and framing before anyone notices. If water has reached finished materials, drying it promptly limits the damage. Our water restoration service handles extraction and drying once the plumbing repair is done.

Permits for repairs in Dunwoody

The city handles a stand-alone plumbing repair under a single trade component permit, and the work should wait until it is issued. In Dunwoody, permits go to contractors who hold a license, or to an owner who lives in the home. For a heater replacement or a change to the relief valve discharge, ask about the permit before the work starts.

Questions about tankless heater leaks in Dunwoody

Is it normal for a tankless water heater to drip?

A condensing unit produces condensate that should flow out through its drain line, so some water at the drain is normal. Drips from fittings, from the relief valve or from inside the cabinet are not. If you cannot tell where the water comes from, dry the area, lay down a paper towel and see where it gets wet first.

Can a leaking tankless heater be repaired?

Often, when the leak is at a fitting, valve, relief valve or condensate line. Those parts are replaceable, and the heater returns to normal service. A leak from the heat exchanger is more serious. On a newer unit the part may be replaceable, sometimes under the manufacturer's warranty, while on an older unit it usually tips the decision toward replacement.

Why is my tankless heater's relief valve releasing water?

The relief valve opens when pressure, or on some valves temperature, goes beyond its setting. Causes include high incoming water pressure, a faulty valve, debris on its seat or a malfunction that lets the water overheat. Testing the home's water pressure and the valve itself shows which. A valve that keeps discharging should never be capped or plugged.

Before the visit

Photos of where the water appears, a note on whether it is hot or cool, and the heater's model number help us arrive prepared. Keep the area as dry and clear as you can.

Found water under your tankless heater in Dunwoody? Call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 and describe what you see.