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A water heater can become an explosive device if not properly maintained. Click here to watch a video of a water heater explosion. The video is of a 12-gallon water heater exploding. After watching the video, imagine what might happen to your house from a water heater that holds 30, 40, or 50 gallons. The United States averages 50 water heater explosions each year, one for each state.
So although the water heater is an appliance providing great convenience to us in our homes, please don’t ignore it. Following the recommendations here should provide you with many years of service from your water heater. Of course, if there were problems noted in Section 4 – Areas of Concern, you should first have those items repaired by a licensed plumbing professional. Water heaters should always be readily accessible so that gas and water can be shut off easily in the event of an emergency. Thermostat settings are never changed at the time of the inspection, even when apparently set too high. |
The temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) is a safety device, and when it operates, it typically indicates a problem with the water heater, usually water temperature or water pressure that is too high and dangerous. When the drain pipe terminates at an exterior location, an unknown location, or a drain or sink, it is difficult to determine whether or not the TPR valve has operated since any water that has been discharged is not seen because it evaporated, was absorbed by the ground, or was drained away.
A common recommendation is to place a 5-gallon pail under the drain pipe termination point and monitor the pail regularly to detect whether or not water has been discharged. If you cannot monitor the drain pipe regularly, it is imperative that all the valves be inspected and tested annually by a qualified plumbing professional. |
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