The Dangers of Old Water Heaters
Sometimes when you’re replacing a water heater there's some safety issues that are required by code now, that weren't in place 6 or 8 years ago. For example, now, any water heater installed on a 2nd floor that feeds a fixture below or in the attic requires an anti-siphon device.
Lets say the city cuts off the water, to a waterline repair and you have no water pressure in your house. Someone walks over to turn on the sink, turns on the faucet. Well, there's no water, except for the little bit of hot water that starts trickling out of your water heater. Without an anti-siphon device, that water heater can drain that water, soon as it gets below the sensor. Then the water heater can fire up, creating a fire hazard because it's got no water in it. This causes a major hazard.
Silent but Violent
The other day, we got a call from a gas company about a water heater. It was in a house that had been sitting vacant for a while. The gas company came to turn on the gas for the new tenant. They noticed that the gas water heater had some issues.
We went over there, and then the flu pipe on the gas vent for the water heater was completely disconnected. The gas water heater had been billowing carbon monoxide into the previous tenant’s attic. That is a scarry situation. Those things happen.
That’s why carbon monoxide detectors are required. They should be installed anytime you have a gas fireplace.
The Breaker Lied
DIY Fireworks
I can tell you a personal experience. I almost fried myself in a water heater.
It was an electric water heater, 200 volt, 40 volt electric water heater. I walk over to the panel, flip the breaker off. Walk over to the water heater to start taking it apart - disconnect the wiring. Well, it was mislabeled in the electrical panel. Power to the water heater was still on.
As soon as I touched my screwdriver to the top of the heater, it blew melted metal all over my face. Make sure your water heater is properly marked. We train our staff to get their volt meter out every time we change out an electric water heater.
