Can A Water Heater Explode If It Is 10 Years Old?
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at
7:44 am
Can a water heater explode is if it giving out? I get about 15 mins of hot water time before it gets cold and worry about a fire happening..
Tagged with: Explode • Heater • Water • Years
Filed under: Home Repair
It is designed with overtemp and pressure valve in the system to prevent an explosion. This is a brass item about 1.5 inches in diameter in the hot water line above the tank about 8″ there are three pipes with it, One just below it that “T” s off to your house, one into the tank and the 3rd goes outside. There is a small lever on the top of the valve that should be down at all times.
Since you run out of hot water, you should call a professional plumber to replace the tank if it is more than 10 years old. Most likely, you have one element out if it is an electric tank. If gas, then it needs a service call to repair it. It is not likely to explode, just freeze your backside while you shower.
It may need to be flushed, to remove sediment buildup in the bottom of the tank. It could be an eroded dip tube, which can be replaced on most water heaters. If an electric model, one or both elements could be seriously deteriorated. Any of these problems can be easily repaired by a reputable plumber, and would be MUCH cheaper than buying a new water heater. While it is possible for a water heater to explode, it is incredibly, incredibly unlikely that that will happen, due to multiple safety features built into them. A more likely case would be that the tank would leak.
Good chance there is some build up inside the tank and it is not able to fill with as much water as it did at one point in time. The only way it will explode is if the pressure release valve is dysfunctional. Most relatively new (certainly w/in 10 years) have several pressure release mechanisms built into them.
Fire is not a real risk, but you may want to seek the advise of a professional plumber or heating service co.
If the pilot light extinguishes, either through a water leak from the tank or a problem with the pilot gas flow, then gas will be accumulating and an explosion is possible.
However the problem you report does not suggest this is the case. It is more likely your tank has a broken thermostat or a problem with the main burner.
For peace of mind call a good serviceman and get it checked. It is worth the bill.
No, the usual is that the element burns out. No fire, and by all means, no explosion. Some may leak after time too. Try taking ‘Military’ showers. Simply turn on the hot water to wet yourself, then, you turn it off. Do your hair, body, etc… and then ,turn it on to rinse. If you are shaving your legs, or doing something that takes some time, by all means turn the water off…15 minutes is actually a pretty long time to have the water ‘flowing’.
PS..FYI… Before, (using the typical shampoo, I use the best type out now..) I would lather and rinse my hair immediately. Then turn off the water, apply conditioner, while that is saturating/penetrating my hair, I would apply a mask on my face, or the ‘problem areas’, lather my body, and shave. . I’d brush/floss my teeth, and then, turn back on the water and rinse… leaving my hair to be rinsed last. ( The action of the cream rinse rinsing out of your hair down your body last, leaves it softer and more supple too).
It probably won’t explode- it does have a safety valve on it, but those do get old and stick shut sometimes. If it’s 10 years old, time to replace it, not repair it. Even if it isn’t leaking yet, don’t drop money into something that has a 6 year life expectancy.
The thermostat relay is faulty or the heating element is giving out.
I recommend getting a new one, esp. if you have hard water.
P.S. And to the MythBuster idiot, it’s called “reality” tv. They put the thing to the MAX!!!! Causing it to overheat & explode.
ALG
If its Gas, yes.
If its Electric, Not very common but its possibly.
if the Boiler is in bad condition your going to have a flooding problem which is more likely. I think it’s around every 5 to 10 years your need to replace or service the boiler.
If it’s electric, it may be a burned out element. If it’s gas, it could be a bad diptube.
Water heaters don’t explode from being old - they explode from being plumbed wrong.
It’s getting close to saying goodbye, though.
Sounds like it might be getting ready to bite the big one. Get a new on if you can. If not have your local utility come out to check it out. They will come out for free if you tell them you are smelling gas.
On myth busters water heaters can act like a rocket and shoot up through the floor and blow the roof off your house.http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1349564/my…
if it is electric , the element has corroded due to too much limescale in the water, just replace the element
it will not blow up unless it back up and presser bulids in it. but i whould get a new one or get it fixed or take a fast shower lol
it will. just watch the mythbuster episode on water heaters
Anything can break/explode you could catch it on fire or something?
If it is electric pry not but if it is gas it could be possible.
They mostly ended up that way.
Why of course it can! Have a nice evening