Water leaking from top of A.O. Smith water heater around piping

Safety: Turn off power or gas and close the cold water supply. Relieve pressure by opening a hot faucet.

• 1. Dry and inspect: Wipe the top of the heater dry and observe where water reappears.
• 2. Tighten fittings: Carefully tighten threaded connections at the hot and cold nipples, anode rod, and T&P outlet using appropriate tools.
• 3. Replace corroded parts: If dielectric unions or nipples are heavily corroded, drain the tank below the level of the fittings and replace them with new components using pipe sealant or Teflon tape.
• 4. Anode rod: If leaking at the anode port, remove the rod, clean threads, apply sealant, and reinstall or replace the rod.