The Water Heater Fire --Tips & Ticks
2008-08-14

 Water heaters and fires 

A Wednesday morning fire has left 14 Plant City residents homeless. "I woke up to a loud noise, screaming that the house was on fire," said resident Naomi Hernandez. "So I woke up, got my kids, got out." Hernandez said five children and nine adults lived in the home. All escaped without injury. A water heater apparently started the fire. "It just started smoking," Hernandez said. "Fire coming out.” I guess electric problems or something." It's easy to forget about your water heater. It sits up in your attic or in your garage silently and reliably putting out hot water. It's easy to forget about it until something goes wrong. Water heaters are not as maintenance free as some people would like to believe. There are some useful tips on keeping your water heater running well. 

Do's and Dont's Do’s 1. To lower the stress on your water heater and to lower your utility bills set your thermostat at or around 120 degrees. Any more than that and you put extra pressure on the heater and take the chance of burns caused by scalding water. 2. To extend the life of your water heater, drain the tank annually to remove any sediment that may have built up inside it. Be careful to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions. The water draining could be extremely HOT. 3. Test safety relief valve once a year to ensure proper operation (this device protects the heater from over-pressurizing and from exceeding 210 degrees 4. Water heaters should be maintained annually by flushing and checking of the anode. If a lot of flaky white material comes out of the drain valve, or you have "smelly" (sometimes sulfur smelling) hot water, you need to have a Certified technician replace it. 5.Purchase a hot water insulation jacket for your water heater. By insulating, it will keep the hot water heated longer, reduce standby heat loss (heat lost through the walls of the tank) by 25–40%, and further save on heating costs 6. Try at least once every couple years to have your water heater inspected by a certified plumbing technician. This will keep it in optimal operating condition, and will prevent dangerous carbon monoxide problems. Don’t s 1. Keep combustible material or flammable material or flammable material within 18” off the hot water heater 2. Never leave children unattended around a hot water heater. 3. However, don't go home and activate the T&P valve lever! If it is older than about 2 years, it probably will not reseal due to compression set of the gasket Troubleshooting Electric Water Heaters 

1. There is no hot water Check for: The heater has no power. The safety thermostat has quit working. Defective heating thermostat Defective heating elements Accumulation of rust, scale, or sediment in the tank or pipes Remedies: Check the fuse box/ circuit breaker. If the heater repeatedly blows fuses call your plumber. Push the reset button. Test the heating thermostats and elements. Test the thermostats and replace if necessary. Test the elements and replace if necessary. Drain and flush the tank and pipes. 2. The hot water supply is too low Check for: Thermostat is set wrong. The tank is too small. Heat is getting loose in the pipes. Defective heating element. Leaking hot water faucets. Remedies: Turn the thermostat to a higher temperature. Install a larger heater. Move the heater nearer to the point of use if possible. Insulate the hot water pipes. Test the element then replace it. Repair or replace the faucets. 3. The water temperature is too highCheck for: Thermostat is on the wrong setting. Inadequate insulation around the thermostats. Remedies: Turn down the thermostat. Add insulation around the thermostats. Test the thermostat and replace if necessary. 4. There is a water leak Check for: Defective gasket or seal on the element. Defective safety valve. The tank is rusted through. Leaking plumbing connections. Remedies: Check and replace gasket or seal. Check and replace the safety valve. Consider replacing water heater. Call a qualified plumbing contractor. 5.The heater becomes unusually noisy Check for: Accumulation of rust, scale or sediment in the tank Scale has formed on the elements. Remedies: Drain the tank and flush it out. Remove the elements, soak with vinegar, and then scrape off the scale. 6. Your hot water pipe is rusty or discolored Check for: Accumulation of rust or sediment in the tank. Scale has formed on the elements. Corroded water pipe. Remedies: Drain the tank. Remove the elements, soak them in vinegar, and then scrape off the scale. Have a plumber inspect for necessary repairs. By putting these simple steps into effect, you can greatly extend the life of your water heater and improve its efficiency. By not forgetting about your water heater, you can save a lot of aggravation and enjoy a comfort bath