Carmel Water Heater Leaks: Help by Phone

Carmel softens its water. Mostly.

Carmel Utilities draws well water and treats it in three steps: iron removal, softening, then chlorine and fluoride. Its water report says the plant softens water to about eight grains of hardness, which it calls moderately hard. That is far softer than the roughly 20-plus grains in neighboring Westfield and Noblesville.

There are two catches worth knowing if you are tracing a leak:

• Hardness varies. Carmel’s latest report lists a system-wide average of 13.3 grains per gallon, with readings from 4 up to 37 grains. The utility notes that softening may be reduced during periods of very high summer use.
• Not every Carmel address is on Carmel water. Carmel Utilities’ FAQ says former Indianapolis water customers who have not been converted still receive water from Indianapolis that has not been softened. If your home is in one of those areas, your heater sees much harder water, and sediment-related problems like drain valve leaks and bottom leaks are more likely.

Check your water bill or call the utility if you don’t know which supply you are on, and mention it on the call.

Older homes than Westfield

Census estimates put the median year built for Carmel housing at 2000, about a decade older than Westfield’s 2010, and about 72% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. Many heaters in Carmel have already been replaced at least once, so it is worth knowing whether yours is original or a newer unit. In older basements and utility rooms, check the relief valve discharge pipe too; Indiana’s plumbing code requires it to end within 6 inches of the floor or a drain.

Softened water and tankless units

Softer water means less scale in a tankless water heater, but it doesn’t remove the other common tankless leak points: the condensate line, service valves and connections. Leaks after a hard freeze are still common for units on exterior walls or in garages.

If water is spreading

Close the cold supply above the heater, switch off the breaker (electric) or set the gas control to OFF (gas), and keep clear of hot water. The full burst water heater shutoff steps cover what to do next.

Nearby

Carmel’s northern edge meets Westfield. See water heater leak repair in Westfield, or water heater leak repair in Noblesville to the northeast. See all towns and ZIP codes covered.