Modern water heaters are the safest and most efficient the world has ever known for delivering hot water reliably. Whether your water heater is gas or electric, there is a chance that a poorly installed, maintained, or damaged water heater could explode. Taking care of your water heater and making sure you keep up on regular maintenance is a crucial part of keeping this modern convenience working safely and properly. But why do water heaters explode, and how do you prevent that from happening? To answer this question, we need to look at how a water heater works.
Water heaters rely on two things to work properly: a heat source and water under pressure. If you’ve ever boiled water in a covered pot on a stove and noticed the pan moving around as the water inside percolates, you’ve seen this in action. Generally, the pressure developed by the boiling water isn’t enough to cause an explosion. Water heaters should never get hot enough to boil water, and there are safety mechanisms in place to prevent that. However, any time heat and pressure build to a critical level, you have a recipe for an explosion, especially if the safety mechanisms fail!
Gas leaks are another common reason water heaters explode. Because gas heaters rely on a pilot light to function, a stray spark plus a leak or extinguished pilot light can cause a fire or explosion. If you notice popping sounds or the distinctive rotten egg odor of natural gas additives from your heater, leave and call 911 and a plumber immediately!
Sediment and rust buildup can contribute to dangerously high pressure inside the tank and can be caused by an aging or improperly installed unit. Brown water is a warning sign of this. If you see brown water coming from your taps or faucets, call a plumber to diagnose and repair the problem before it gets out of hand.
Modern water heaters are safe, but if you don’t give them proper respect and care, you could find you’ve got a time bomb on your hands!
