Is Your Water Heater a Time Bomb?

It's hard to believe it, but over 19,000 water heaters are replaced every day. About 7 million heaters end up being tossed out each year in the United States alone. A large metropolitan city such as Dallas, TX may see several thousand water heaters a year disposed of. Not only are water heaters a common plumbing malfunction, but unfortunately, they can be dangerous when they do malfunction. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently said that almost every single day someone gets injured or killed from a explosion.

Naturally, then, extending the life of your water heater and preventing any unexpected break downs is a priority. So, first, we need to understand the common causes for problems. The first common problem would have to be sediment build up. Sediment comes from dirt, mineral deposits and rust. This build up of sediments and internal rusting can cause premature death of your device. It can burn out the heating elements and cause overheating. This also results in an increase of unnecessary energy use. Another common cause of rust inside the w. heater is due to hard water. Dallas is one city known for hard water in many areas of the metroplex. In such a situation, it would be a good idea to call an experienced Dallas plumber for advice and recommendations when selecting your water heater. Such an experienced plumber in Dallas would be familiar with the quality of Dallas water, and would be able to make recommendations as to which water heaters are more likely to resist premature rusting.

The New Mexico State University issued a study where the results showed that w. heaters operate 22-30 percent less efficiently when they have hard water scale. The only way to know if your current hot w. heater is collecting minerals and deposits is to call a qualified plumber and have them come out and inspect your w. heater. If you live in an area such as Dallas, with hard water, then be sure to call an experienced licensed Dallas plumber to thoroughly check your water heater on a regular basis. If sediment is discovered, your Dallas plumber will be able to flush out the sediment and give it proper maintenance.

Another common cause for w. heater problems is improper installation from the beginning. This could include bad flues, improper clearances, ignoring installation instructions, and disregarding national and local plumbing safety codes. These instructions and codes are issued for a reason - to make sure the hot w. heater operates safety and according to intended operation. Ignoring such instructions and safety codes can be dangerous. The only way to know if your hot w. heater is properly installed is to have a qualified Plumber inspect your water heater system for such code violations. It's also possible that some new code requirements have changed since your w. heater was first installed. If this is the case, your plumber can also let you know about these improved codes and what can be done to bring your hot water system up to par. A third common cause for w. heater problems is internal rusting. And finally, number four would be external leaks. If, for whatever reason, a leak develops on the outside of the water heater, it oftentimes initiates rusting from the outside in. This destroys a newly installed water heater prematurely. It also can corrode electrical connections and cause a dangerous electrical shock.

Hot water heaters explode every day. Is YOURS a time bomb? Don't take the chance. Have a plumber come and give your water heater regular inspections and maintenance for your own peace of mind, safety, and protection from very costly repairs later down the road.



By Rick Romero
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3342873