Flooding or a fast leak
If you can reach it without standing in water, close the cold-water shutoff on top of the tank (usually a handle on the pipe feeding the heater). If water is near electrical parts, do not touch the tank. Kill power only at a dry breaker. Then call SAFE or a plumber for replacement—tank-shell leaks are not patch jobs.
Gas odor, yellow flame, soot or CO alarm
Do not operate light switches, phones inside the home, or the water-heater controls. Leave the building, move away, and call 911 or the gas utility. Yellow flames, soot and CO alarms are combustion problems. After the utility clears the home, SAFE can plan a safe gas-tank replacement.
Electric sparks, hot wires, burning smell
Leave the unit off. Do not keep resetting a hot breaker. From a dry location, switch the water-heater breaker off if it is safe. Burned conductors and sparking need a qualified electrical diagnosis before any new tank is installed.
Bulging tank, steam or a “boiling” heater
A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is a pressure/temperature emergency. Stay clear of the T&P discharge. Never cap that pipe. Shut off energy if safe, then arrange immediate replacement.
Where the shutoffs usually are
Water: valve on the cold inlet above the tank, or the home’s main. Electric: dedicated 240V breaker, often labeled “water heater.” Gas: the small gas shutoff on the line to the control—use it only if you can do so without creating a spark hazard; if you smell gas, leave instead.
After the hazard is controlled
SAFE can often replace a leaking tank the same day when a crew and unit are available. We do not advertise 24/7 staffing we cannot cover. Send photos once it is safe, or call 980-447-0919.
Attic leak wetting the ceiling
If an attic tank is dumping onto living space, shut water from a safe location (often the home’s main if you cannot reach the attic valve). Stay off wet insulation. Photograph the ceiling stain and the tank when it is safe. Attic replacements are not the $1,199 closet package—see the attic install guide.
Questions grouped on this page
Related searches are answered here instead of creating one URL per question.
Why are the wires on my water heater getting hot? +
Do not touch the heater if water or damaged wires are present. Switch the breaker off from a dry location. Do not keep resetting it. SAFE will not ask a homeowner to open live 240V covers.
Why is my water heater flame yellow instead of blue? +
Do not operate switches or restart the heater. Leave the home and call 911 or the gas utility. Soot, a yellow flame and CO alarms are combustion problems. SAFE replaces the unit after the home is cleared.
Why is there soot around my gas water heater? +
Do not operate switches or restart the heater. Leave the home and call 911 or the gas utility. Soot, a yellow flame and CO alarms are combustion problems. SAFE replaces the unit after the home is cleared.
Why do I smell gas near my water heater? +
Do not operate switches or restart the heater. Leave the home and call 911 or the gas utility. Soot, a yellow flame and CO alarms are combustion problems. SAFE replaces the unit after the home is cleared.
What should I do if the carbon monoxide alarm goes off near my water heater? +
Do not operate switches or restart the heater. Leave the home and call 911 or the gas utility. Soot, a yellow flame and CO alarms are combustion problems. SAFE replaces the unit after the home is cleared.
What do I do if my water heater is flooding the house? +
Stay clear of T&P discharge and never cap that pipe. Shut water and energy off if it is safe. A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is replacement, not sealant.
Is a bulging water heater dangerous? +
Stay clear of T&P discharge and never cap that pipe. Shut water and energy off if it is safe. A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is replacement, not sealant.
Why is steam coming from my water heater? +
Stay clear of T&P discharge and never cap that pipe. Shut water and energy off if it is safe. A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is replacement, not sealant.
What should I do if my water heater is boiling? +
Stay clear of T&P discharge and never cap that pipe. Shut water and energy off if it is safe. A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is replacement, not sealant.
What should I do if the pressure relief valve is releasing a lot of water? +
Stay clear of T&P discharge and never cap that pipe. Shut water and energy off if it is safe. A deformed tank or uncontrolled steam is replacement, not sealant.
Why does my water heater smell like it is burning? +
Treat this as safety first, then text photos only when the area is dry and the gas/CO risk is gone. Call 980-447-0919.
What should I do if my electric water heater is sparking? +
Do not touch the heater if water or damaged wires are present. Switch the breaker off from a dry location. Do not keep resetting it. SAFE will not ask a homeowner to open live 240V covers.