Water heater and appliance leaks in Jacksonville
A failed tank water heater keeps refilling from the main line until someone closes the cold supply. In Jacksonville many tanks sit in garages, where the water runs across concrete, or in interior closets, where it soaks into the surrounding walls and flooring.
The line is open 24/7 and connects you with an independent local company.
Right now
- 1Close the cold water valve above the water heater, or the main valve if you can't reach it.
- 2Switch off the heater's breaker (electric) or set the gas control to pilot or off.
- 3Don't touch the drain valve or hot pipes until the tank has cooled.
- 4Move boxes and rugs out of the water and take dated photos.
What's going on
Washer hoses, dishwasher lines, ice maker lines and AC-adjacent closets cause the same kind of damage on a smaller scale. The longer the leak runs, the more of the floor and the lower walls have to dry.
Many Jacksonville water heaters sit in an attached garage or an interior closet. If you can't reach the cold valve above the tank, the main valve in the JEA meter box at the curb shuts off the whole house.
Water category: Category 1 for a clean supply leak; washer drain water is Category 2.
What changes the size of the job
- Garage concrete versus finished flooring in a closet or hallway
- How many rooms the water reached
- Whether cabinets or the lower walls soaked it up
- How long the leak ran
No prices here: only a written estimate from the company that sees the house can give one.
How drying usually goes
- 1
Check the spread
Readings show whether water moved under flooring, into the next room or up the drywall.
- 2
Extract
Standing water and wet carpet or pad are cleared so drying can start.
- 3
Open cabinets and baseboard
Toe kicks and baseboard may come off where water ran under cabinets or behind walls.
- 4
Dehumidify
Air movers and dehumidifiers run until the materials reach their dry standard.
- 5
Record and hand off
Readings and photos are kept so the replacement of the heater and the repairs can follow.
Jacksonville facts for this problem
JEA says replacement costs from the meter to the home, and inside it, are the customer's; the meter box is typically at the curb near the street.
Source: JEA: Water Service Line Verification ProjectJEA lists (904) 665-6000 as a 24-hour number for severe sewage backup or significant water back-flow into a home.
Source: JEA: ContactEPA guidance: hold indoor relative humidity under 60 percent, and between 30 and 50 percent when you can.
Source: EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your HomeEPA guidance: get wet materials and belongings dry within 24 to 48 hours, or mold can start.
Source: EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your HomeAny Florida contractor or mold license can be checked by name or number on the Florida DBPR license search.
Source: Florida DBPR license search
Insurance, in general terms
Water from a sudden tank or hose failure is often treated as covered, while the worn-out appliance itself usually isn't. Leaks that ran for weeks can be excluded. Your policy wording controls.
Questions
- Is a leaking water heater dangerous?
- It can be. Water near an electric heater's wiring or a gas burner is a hazard, and the water inside may be scalding. Shut the power or gas and the cold supply first.
- Is washer water clean?
- Water from a burst supply hose is clean. Water from the drain side, once it has been through a wash, counts as gray water (Category 2) and calls for cleaning, not just drying.
- How long does drying take after a water heater leak?
- It depends on the materials. Concrete and tile can dry in a few days; soaked drywall, cabinets or wood flooring take longer. Daily readings tell you when it's done.
Other water problems
Water heater and appliance leaks in Jacksonville? The line is open now.
(904) 352-8877