Safety & legal
Safety disclaimer
HeaterLeak helps you understand a leaking water heater and act safely. It is an educational guide, not a professional inspection and not a substitute for a licensed plumber. Read this before you act on anything the tool tells you.
A water heater combines standing water with gas or electricity and stores water hot enough to scald. If you smell gas, do not touch any switch — leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside. If you are ever unsure, stop and call a professional. When in doubt, the safe choice is always to shut the unit off and call for help.
What the tool does
The triage maps where your heater is leaking, its age, and its type to the most likely cause, a repair-or-replace verdict, and a typical cost range, using fixed, published logic — not a chatbot guessing. It runs entirely in your browser and cannot see your unit. It is a starting point to help you make a safer, better-informed decision, not a diagnosis.
What it can't do
It can't confirm the exact source of your leak, inspect your gas or electrical connections, or account for local code, unusual installations, or a hazard we can't see. Real conditions vary. A leaking gas line, a flooded floor near electrical, scalding water, or any uncertainty means you should stop using the tool and get a licensed professional.
Never disable a safety device
If the leak is at the temperature & pressure (T&P) relief valve, never cap, plug, or block it. It exists to keep the tank from rupturing under pressure. Lower the thermostat and call a plumber to replace the valve and find out why it opened.
Costs are ranges, not quotes
Every dollar figure on this site is a typical US range that varies by region, brand, and installation. It is not an estimate for your specific job. Get two or three quotes from licensed local plumbers before you decide.
No liability
How you use this information, and your own safety while you do, are yours to own. Within the limits the law sets, Worklifted Technologies accepts no liability for injury, water damage, or expense that follows from reading this site or acting on it. The full legal position sits on the terms of use page.