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Water heater
Anthony D.
Member Posts: 63
american
0
Comments
-
Sounds like bacon frying
We came across an american gas water heater, that sizzled like bacon frying. And pretty loud too. I think its a high efficiency heater because while it was a 50 gallon - looked like 100 gallon. I dont have much experience with high efficiency water heaters.
Any suggestions would be appriciated!!0 -
what manufacturer
what brand of water heater is it?0 -
he said it was an...
American water heater..I have heard of the water condensing over the burner at start up or if there was a huge turnover in hot water. kpc0 -
american heater
Since is is probably relatively old, there is probably mineral/debris build up on the bottom of the tank acting like additional insulation between the water(also causing the metal tank to get hotter - contributing to premature failure) and burner causing it to "perculate" like old teapot. While there are acids, etc. to help clean it, with the time involved and no guarantee of success vs. the price of a new heater, my choice would be to replace it.
Kent0 -
replaceit
water heaters that make funny noises can go BOOM in the night! Water heater blasts off from basement to sky
Johnna Bruner, 19, stands beside holes that an exploding water heater left in the floor and ceiling of her home on Greensprings Drive.
Published July 9, 2003
Defective heater puts hole in roof
By ROB McCALLUM
H&N Staff Writer
Johnna Bruner was fast asleep when an explosion ripped through her home on Greensprings Drive in the middle of the night.
It was a malfunctioning water heater, which built up pressure until it turned into a bomb that rocketed up from the basement, ripped a hole in the living room floor, and vaulted through the ceiling to land on the roof next to the satellite dish.
The explosion that occurred about 1 a.m. June 30 shook the house off its foundation and left its contents in tatters.
Bruner and her fiance, Casey McClin, considered themselves lucky to have survived.
"We were in a water bed at the time and [the explosion] sort of tidal waved us out," said Bruner, who lives in the 2100 block of Greensprings Drive. "There was so much steam in the living room we thought there was a fire."
Klamath County plumbing inspector Dennis Stone said he was surprised at the damage caused by the 20-gallon water heater.
"I've been in the trade going on 33 years and I've never seen anything like it," Stone said "It looked like a bunker-buster bomb went off in there, like in Iraq."
According to Stone, the pressure release valve on the water heater either corroded shut or failed altogether. When the thermostat continued to function, pressure built up inside the heater until it burst.
"We'd heard some godawful noises about an hour before it happened," Bruner said. "So we went down and read the instructions on the water heater and it said to turn the water breaker off, so we did."
Around 1 a.m., the water heater blasted off from its spot in the basement, tore through the living room floor and ceiling, just feet from the sleeping Bruner and McClin. The heater then landed above the porch, knocking down the chimney in the process.
The heater was hot enough to create steam, meaning it was at least 220 degrees. Melted insulation was found throughout the house.
When the heater initially exploded, a wave of pressure blew the garage door onto Green Springs Drive. According to Stone, this may have saved Bruner and McClin.
"They told us that if the garage door wasn't there, we'd be dead," Bruner said. "It was such a crappy garage door it blew out instead of blowing us up."
"The two people in there were lucky," Stone said. "Most of the pressure went out instead of up into the house. It still moved walls off the foundation."
Damage estimates to the property have yet to be determined by insurance companies. Bruner said that she and her fiance lost more than $26,000 in the accident.
Exploding water heaters are rare but not unheard of, according to Stone.
"It's not common, but when it does happen it's pretty damaging," Stone said. "It's something that people just don't think about. If the right circumstances hit, this is what happens."
Homeowners can prevent their water heaters from exploding with proper maintenance.
"If somebody has a heater that's 10 to 15 years old, they should check it's condition and maybe think about replacing it," Stone said. "A replacement is really pretty reasonable in cost. If people are leery about what they need to do, a licensed plumber can give them an estimate."
Stone said that newer water heaters have more advanced pressure release valves. Any time a used water heater is resold, the release valve is replaced.
"Sometimes people see that their release valve is leaking, so instead of replacing it, they clog it," Stone said. "They've just made themselves a bomb."
Meanwhile, Bruner and McClin are staying with relatives until they can find a permanent home.
"Usually when you think of an water heater blowing up you think of some water flooding a basement," Bruner said. "But this literally blew up."
Reporter Rob McCallum can be reached at 885-4413 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at rmccallum@heraldandnews.com.
0 -
Agree
I would agree, it's a sign. It's talking to you, are you listening? Sometimes the glass lining falls off and builds up on the bottom with deposits like Kent said and the heat can't get to the water and the unit percolates, quite violently some times and eventually the tank splits. Whether we are right or the first message is it's time to replace.
Geno0 -
Watt's relief valve film (VCR)
> water heaters that make funny noises can go BOOM
> in the night!
> Water heater blasts off from basement to
> sky
>
> Johnna Bruner, 19, stands beside holes
> that an exploding water heater left in the floor
> and ceiling of her home on Greensprings Drive.
> Published July 9, 2003
>
> Defective heater puts
> hole in roof
>
> By ROB McCALLUM
>
> H&N Staff
> Writer
>
> Johnna Bruner was fast asleep when an
> explosion ripped through her home on Greensprings
> Drive in the middle of the night.
>
> It was a
> malfunctioning water heater, which built up
> pressure until it turned into a bomb that
> rocketed up from the basement, ripped a hole in
> the living room floor, and vaulted through the
> ceiling to land on the roof next to the satellite
> dish.
>
> The explosion that occurred about 1 a.m.
> June 30 shook the house off its foundation and
> left its contents in tatters.
>
> Bruner and her
> fiance, Casey McClin, considered themselves lucky
> to have survived.
>
> "We were in a water bed at
> the time and [the explosion] sort of tidal waved
> us out," said Bruner, who lives in the 2100 block
> of Greensprings Drive. "There was so much steam
> in the living room we thought there was a
> fire."
>
> Klamath County plumbing inspector
> Dennis Stone said he was surprised at the damage
> caused by the 20-gallon water heater.
>
> "I've
> been in the trade going on 33 years and I've
> never seen anything like it," Stone said "It
> looked like a bunker-buster bomb went off in
> there, like in Iraq."
>
> According to Stone, the
> pressure release valve on the water heater either
> corroded shut or failed altogether. When the
> thermostat continued to function, pressure built
> up inside the heater until it burst.
>
> "We'd
> heard some godawful noises about an hour before
> it happened," Bruner said. "So we went down and
> read the instructions on the water heater and it
> said to turn the water breaker off, so we
> did."
>
> Around 1 a.m., the water heater blasted
> off from its spot in the basement, tore through
> the living room floor and ceiling, just feet from
> the sleeping Bruner and McClin. The heater then
> landed above the porch, knocking down the chimney
> in the process.
>
> The heater was hot enough to
> create steam, meaning it was at least 220
> degrees. Melted insulation was found throughout
> the house.
>
> When the heater initially exploded,
> a wave of pressure blew the garage door onto
> Green Springs Drive. According to Stone, this may
> have saved Bruner and McClin.
>
> "They told us
> that if the garage door wasn't there, we'd be
> dead," Bruner said. "It was such a crappy garage
> door it blew out instead of blowing us
> up."
>
> "The two people in there were lucky,"
> Stone said. "Most of the pressure went out
> instead of up into the house. It still moved
> walls off the foundation."
>
> Damage estimates to
> the property have yet to be determined by
> insurance companies. Bruner said that she and her
> fiance lost more than $26,000 in the
> accident.
>
> Exploding water heaters are rare but
> not unheard of, according to Stone.
>
> "It's not
> common, but when it does happen it's pretty
> damaging," Stone said. "It's something that
> people just don't think about. If the right
> circumstances hit, this is what
> happens."
>
> Homeowners can prevent their water
> heaters from exploding with proper
> maintenance.
>
> "If somebody has a heater that's
> 10 to 15 years old, they should check it's
> condition and maybe think about replacing it,"
> Stone said. "A replacement is really pretty
> reasonable in cost. If people are leery about
> what they need to do, a licensed plumber can give
> them an estimate."
>
> Stone said that newer water
> heaters have more advanced pressure release
> valves. Any time a used water heater is resold,
> the release valve is replaced.
>
> "Sometimes
> people see that their release valve is leaking,
> so instead of replacing it, they clog it," Stone
> said. "They've just made themselves a
> bomb."
>
> Meanwhile, Bruner and McClin are
> staying with relatives until they can find a
> permanent home.
>
> "Usually when you think of an
> water heater blowing up you think of some water
> flooding a basement," Bruner said. "But this
> literally blew up."
>
> Reporter Rob McCallum can
> be reached at 885-4413 or (800) 275-0982, or by
> e-mail at rmccallum@heraldandnews.com.
0 -
Watt's waterheater relief valve film (VCR)
Got a copy for my class to watch, filmed in the 50's and only about 15 minutes of water heaters blowing up building after building after building. Great explanation of why we use a T&P in a water heater and why it should be replaced if there is even a little doubt of it's ability to function. It started me thinking again, it's to easy to become complacent and overlook a safty and liability issue like this.0 -
Seen it.
> Got a copy for my class to watch, filmed in the
> 50's and only about 15 minutes of water heaters
> blowing up building after building after
> building. Great explanation of why we use a T&P
> in a water heater and why it should be replaced
> if there is even a little doubt of it's ability
> to function. It started me thinking again, it's
> to easy to become complacent and overlook a safty
> and liability issue like this.
0 -
Seen it.
I saw it. It's impressive. I'll have to get it for my class. If I remember right they put one in a field and it went 150ft. straight up. It will prove to anyone who sees it the importance of testing those valves and replacing them every once in a while. Thanks for bringing it up and reminding me.
Geno0 -
Kent's statment is probly the cause
I have had may oil fired water heaters do that to find they have a layer of debris on the bottom. The heat is generated at this location and will cause this sound when firing. This can happen as early as 3 to 5 years after installation depending on your water quality.0 -
VIDEO
Just checked Watts site and they have the video in case any one is interested.http://www.wattsreg.com/home.htm
Go to the store or search " video".
Geno0
This discussion has been closed.
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