Why did my water heater explode?
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food (
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January 13th, 2011
Yesterday morning there was a drip coming from a tube that is connected to the water heater. A couple of hours later, as we were calling a plumber, a noise like a siren startled me and made me jump as it came out of the laundry room. A few seconds later, a loud bang could be heard as the water heater exploded, sending its lid far across the room. Two pieces within were bright burning red. We turned off the water and disconnected electricity in that room.
Is there anything that could have been done to prevent it? Is it a faulty water heater? Or what?
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9 Answers
My husband said the thermastat on the heating element failed to shut-off and kept calling for heat. Then the pressure relief valve was the whistle you heard. Or maybe a pin-hole in the pressure relief valve and it didn’t work at all. But evidently, two safeties failed by the sound of things. The thermastat and pressure relief valve. Be thankful you weren’t anywhere near it when it blew. That’s what he said. Wow…sorry.
How old was the unit? Hot water heaters only have a 12–15 year life span unless you are a gambler.
@Cruiser What does my addiction to the craps table have to do with anything!!!!???!!!
The heater did not turn off. Either the thermostat went bad or the power switch hung up. Depending upon the age of the water heater is it could be a HexFet, Triac or relay. The overpressure relief valve was also plugged. They say it should be tested and regularly. That is why there is a tube coming out the the top of the heater and running down the side. You are supposed to put a pan there and open the valve periodically to make sure it works. Yeah right.
Sounds like it was electric right? If it were gas it could have caught your house on fire!
I don´t know how old the unit is, but it might be eight years old? I´m not sure, because I´m renting… A plumber came and said the heater was made in Israel, and he said those units were dangerous (I don´t know if it´s true). He recommended purchasing a heater made in the U.S. He also said it looked like there was a leak inside, and so did the landlady, because there was a white stain on a tiny black piece inside.
Yes, it´s electric! It almost looked like it was on fire, though, when two parts of it turned burning red!
How often should the heater be checked? Every three months or six, do you think?
Every couple of months test the pressure relief valve
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