Hot Water Heater Inspection For Dallas Homeowners
For starters, all kinds of things can go wrong with your storage tank water heater. Plus, it’s average lifespan is only 8 – 12 years, so it stands to reason that the better you take care of it, the better job it can do of providing all the hot water you need, when you need it.
Tips on inspecting hot water heaters.
Hot Water Heater Inspection
For the most part they are reliable pieces of equipment that sit in a closet and quietly do their job. We don’t worry about them until we turn on the shower and have no hot water. Fall time is usually when most old hot water heaters fail because the water coming into the house is colder and the hot water tank works harder to heat the water.
There are several simple things you can do to make your water heater last longer but at some point it will need to be replaced. A simple visual inspection can tell you a great deal about your water heater. Do you have a fairly new tank but it doesn’t produce hot water? If there are any leaks or water standing around the tank you have a problem. Is your hot water tank “rumbling” like a volcano or whining? Does your hot water have a “rotten egg” smell or have an orange tint.
Check to see that the flue clearances from combustibles is sufficient.
Check to make sure flue joints are installed to prevent leaks which could cause a fire.
Check to make sure the relief valve is the proper capacity/size, pressure/temperature rating of the relief valve for the BTU/hr rating of the Water Heater it is installed on.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping is not be directly connected to the drainage system.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping discharges through an air gap located in the same room as the water heater.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping is not smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve served and discharges full size to the air gap.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping only serves a single relief device and should not connect to piping serving any other relief device or equipment that can cause a back pressure on the relief valve that could affect its operation.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping discharges to the floor, to the drain pan serving the water heater or storage tank, to a waste receptor or to the outdoors in accordance with the local code.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping discharges in a manner that does not cause personal injury from hot water or steam discharge or structural damage.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping discharges to a termination point that is readily observable by the building occupants so that they know when it is operating there is a problem.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping is not be trapped. Water trapped in the discharge can reduce the discharge capacity and cause water hammer damage in downstream piping. Water trapped in a discharge pipe is like a bullet in the chamber.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping is installed to drain or to flow by gravity so that no water can collect it the piping and cause corrosion, freeze or become an obstruction.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping does not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above the floor or waste receptor. Higher relief pipe terminations can expose building occupants or maintenance workers to sudden discharges of hot water or steam which can cause injuries.
Check to make sure the relief valve piping does not have a threaded connection at the end of such piping to discourage the addition of valves or hoses which can be trapped and may have hose spray valves.
Water Heater Inspection
Berkeys will inspect your water heater with more than its performance worthiness in mind. We’re even more concerned about the negative impact it can have on your home and your family’s well-being. And that’s especially true of gas water heaters. If a gas leak occurs and goes unchecked, for example, a water heater is capable of exploding. Call (214) 238-8353 us for your home service and repair needs.
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