Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater MECH-LEAK Error Fix: Tank Leaking from Bottom

Error code MECH-LEAK on the Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater means: Tank Leaking from Bottom. Water is pooling under the water heater or visible at the base. First identify the source — water can drip from the T&P valve, the hot/cold connections at the top, or the drain valve at the bottom, and run down the side of the tank. Check all fittings for drips. On electric models, also check the element gaskets for leaks (seepage around the element flange). If the leak is from the tank body itself, the inner glass lining has failed and the steel tank is corroding through. A leaking tank cannot be repaired — the water heater must be replaced. Shut off the breaker and water supply and drain the tank to prevent flooding. Bradford White offers a 6-year (or longer) warranty on tank leaks.

The most successful fix is "Replace the Drain Valve to Stop Leaking" (medium difficulty, ~45 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $15-$25. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated critical severity. It is generally not urgent and can often be resolved with a simple DIY fix.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Replace the Drain Valve to Stop Leaking") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes. Tools needed: Pipe wrench, Adjustable wrench, Garden hose.

DIY cost: $15-$25. Professional repair typically costs $120-$180. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater has 8 other known error codes, including: MECH-ANODE (Anode Rod Depleted — Rotten Egg Smell or Corrosion), MECH-ECO-TRIP (ECO (Energy Cut Off) Tripped — Red Reset Button), MECH-ELEMENT-LOWER (Lower Heating Element Failed), MECH-ELEMENT-UPPER (Upper Heating Element Failed), MECH-INSUFFICIENT-HOT (Not Enough Hot Water — Runs Out Quickly), and 3 more.

Error code MECH-LEAK also appears on 8 other Bradford White models: D-W-2-75T6BN Ultra Low NOx, MI50S6BN 50 Gallon 76,000 BTU Magnum Series Commercial Natural Gas Water Heater, MI50T6FBN 50 Gallon 40,000 BTU Natural Gas Magnum Commercial Water Heater, RE340S6 40 Gallon 4500W Short Electric Water Heater with Glass Lining, RG240T6N eF Series, RG250T6N 50 Gallon 40,000 BTU 0.67 EF Defender Safety System Gas Water Heater, and 2 more. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.