Evaluating a water heater only takes a few short minutes, but can be a pricey item if it needs to be replaced. Here are 3 things that I look for when inspecting a water heater:
- Seismic Straps. If an earthquake hits and your water heater isn’t properly anchored, it can be a potential safety hazard due to the risk of the water heater tipping over, gas lines breaking, or electric wiring being damaged if powered by electricity. Leaks can also occur in water-supply pipes, even in minor quakes.
- Pressure relief valve. There is an episode of Mythbusters where they put enough pressure in a water heater that it blows the tank 100 feet into the air after passing through a two story house. (See the clip here) The pressure relief valve is designed to prevent this kind of pressure from building up. Does your tank have one?
- Water temperature. Water temperatures begin to hit scalding level when it hits 120 degrees and is a safety hazard if exceeded, for obvious reasons – especially if you have young children. Never let the temperature exceed 120 degrees.
On average, most water heaters will last between 10-15 years. I’ve seen some last much longer than the average, while others don’t meet the average. If you water heater is getting old, or if it is located indoors, you may look into getting a water leak alarm at your local hardware store to warn you if a leak develops.
