Tanks, hoses and supply lines that let go
Appliance and Water Heater Leaks in Bremen, GA
A washer hose, a water heater tank or a dishwasher line can leak for days behind a closed door. This page covers those leaks in Bremen, Waco, Tallapoosa and Temple homes. Call (678) 839-7986 with the make of the appliance that leaked, the room it sits in and the day you found water.
What it looks like
- A pan, or the floor under a water heater, that is wet, rusty or stained
- Water around the base of a washer, dishwasher or refrigerator
- A cabinet floor under a sink that is swollen or soft
- A hiss or a drip from a hose behind the washer
- A water bill or meter reading that creeps up with no change in habits
Step out and get help if
- A gas water heater or dryer that leaks or smells of gas: go outdoors first, then call 911 or your gas utility.
- Puddles spreading around a plug, a cord or the breaker panel near the appliance: leave, and call 911 from a dry spot.
- The leak has soaked through to a ceiling below: stay out of the room underneath, and call 911 if the ceiling droops or splits.
- Dirty water backing up from a washer or dishwasher drain: keep clear and phone your town's water and sewer office.
Where each appliance keeps its water
A water heater is a pressurized tank, often in a closet, garage or attic, with a drain pan or drain line beneath it. A washer takes water in through two hoses and sends it out through a drain hose. A dishwasher and a refrigerator ice maker each have a small supply line behind or under them.
Hoses, tanks and fittings wear. UGA's checklist asks owners to look at each of those spots for leaks and to empty the water heater's drip pan. The make, model and serial number on the data plate matter for a claim, as FEMA notes.
What to know in these four towns
- UGA's moisture checklist asks owners to install a drip pan beneath the water heater and empty it regularly. It also asks them to check the lines to the washing machine and to look for leaks around the refrigerator, dishwasher and sinks.
- EPA's WaterSense leak week page puts the yearly waste from household leaks above 9,300 gallons. The same page says nine homes in every hundred lose 50 gallons or more per day. Worn toilet flappers and dripping faucets are among the leaks it names.
- FEMA asks owners with insurance to note the make, model and serial number of washers, dryers and water heaters. It also wants photos before anything moves.
When an appliance leak will not hold
Three signs say the leak has moved beyond the appliance. Water is spreading past the pan. A stain has appeared on the ceiling under the laundry room. The floor stays wet after the supply is off. A mildew smell near a closet that holds a water heater counts too.
Turn off the appliance's supply if the valve is reachable from dry ground, then call (678) 839-7986 and name the appliance and the room.
Questions, answered
How serious is an appliance leak on a 1 to 10 scale?
A single drip into a pan you can empty is a 2. A wet floor around a washer is a 4 or 5. Water in the walls or the ceiling below is a 6 to 8. Water near the panel, a gas smell or a sagging ceiling scores a 9 or 10. Those go to 911 or the utility. From a 4 up, call (678) 839-7986.
Which appliances are worth checking each month?
UGA's checklist names the water heater and its drip pan, the washing machine lines, and the refrigerator, dishwasher and sink areas. Looking behind and beneath each one takes a flashlight and a few minutes.
Is a running toilet an appliance leak?
Among the usual household leaks, EPA's leak week page lists dripping faucets, leaking valves and worn toilet flappers. Color the tank water with a few drops of food coloring, wait 10 minutes, and see whether any shows up in the bowl. A leaking toilet wastes water without flooding, so it is a different call from a burst hose.
What happens to the old appliance?
Photograph it, along with the make, model and serial number plate, before it leaves the house. Georgia's insurance department asks owners to keep receipts for temporary repairs and to hold off on permanent ones until the damage has been inspected.
Why does a small leak under a cabinet matter?
Slow leaks soak drywall, subfloor and the cabinet base out of sight. EPA says mold usually will not grow once a wet area has dried out inside 24 to 48 hours. A leak that runs for weeks has no such window. Swollen, soft cabinet boards are the clue to look for.
Can I call about a Waco apartment or a Temple rental?
The number reaches all four towns. A renter sends the landlord the same photos first, since the appliance and the pipes may belong to the building. Then see the Waco notes or the Temple notes, and call (678) 839-7986.
Two jobs hiding in one leak
Prices are not posted here. Repairing or replacing the appliance is one job, and the water damage around it is another. The second grows with how long the leak ran, how far the water traveled under cabinets and flooring, and whether it reached the room below.
Ask for the two jobs to be quoted separately, so each can be compared on its own.
When a new tank or new plumbing is on the table
Swapping a water heater or rerouting plumbing can bring a permit question, and the four towns do not all post the same forms. The paperwork page lists each office, along with the plumbing fee Bremen publishes and the plumbing forms Temple lists.