How often should you check your water heater for leaks and corrosion?

Skipping it eventually leads to water damage or an expensive repair.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

A quick look around the heater catches small problems while they're cheap. Rust at the fittings, moisture at the base, or a damp T&P discharge all warn of trouble before a failure.

1. Look around the top fittings and the cold and hot connections for rust or mineral crust.
2. Check the base and the drain valve for any standing water or dampness.
3. Feel the T&P discharge pipe for moisture, which signals the valve is weeping.
4. Note any rusty streaks down the tank jacket, which suggest an internal leak starting.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Set a leak alarm in the drip pan for early warning between checks.
• A tank showing rust streaks or base moisture is on borrowed time; start pricing a replacement.

Time: 10 minutes · Typical cost: Free; $10–$25 for a leak alarm

What you'll need

• Water leak alarm

If you skip it

Small leaks and corrosion are the early warning of tank failure; catching them lets you replace on your schedule instead of after a flood.

Other water heater maintenance

• Flush water heater tank — once a year
• Test water heater pressure relief valve — once a year
• Check water heater anode rod — every 3 years

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Boiler / radiators — start with: schedule boiler service, once a year, ideally in September
• Furnace / heating system — start with: replace hvac air filter, every 3 months
• Mini-split / ductless AC — start with: clean mini-split filters, once a month
• Air conditioner — start with: schedule ac tune-up, once a year, ideally in April