You likely seldom think about your hot water heater, but you ought to, and below I'll lay out a few reasons why. According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average there are 5,400 home fires a year, resulting in about 20 fatalities from water heaters.
That increase in environmental dryness contributes heavily to fire danger risks. However, as Smokey the Bear says: “Only You can prevent forest fires!” Also, that saying applies directly to water heater owners. While surprising to some, water heater malfunctions now cause hundreds of fires yearly.
A Leading Cause of Fires
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that approximately 1,200 fires a year are caused by portable electric space heaters.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, the average storage-type water heater only lasts about 10 years. By the 9-year mark, more than 40 percent have burst, and just 6 years after setting up your new model, there's still a 15 percent chance it will explode all over your basement.
There's nothing directly wrong with that location as far as water, humidity, etc. My concern would be the vent pipe can get hot so if something fell off the shelf it could catch on fire depending on what it is or it could knock the vent loose which would then have the hot water heater dumping CO in your house.
DON'T set your water heater temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. DON'T keep combustible material within 18 inches of the hot water heater. DON'T leave children unattended around a hot water heater. DON'T allow plaque and sediment to build up in your tank.
Install shelving and hooks to keep things such as laundry detergents and other household items away from the water heater. Don't … Store combustible materials within 18 inches of your water heater. Flammable items placed closer than that could potentially catch fire.
Thanks to modern safety features and regulations, water heater explosions are rare. In 2022, 108 incidents involving hot water heaters were reported to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Leaving the heater running all night might cause a fire because of an overloaded circuit, or a nearby item could ignite. Some older portable heaters might not be designed with the same safety features as a more modern heater.
What is the safest heater to leave on overnight? While it's not recommended to leave any space heater on if you're not monitoring it, oil-filled, radiant space heaters are considered safer than ceramic convection (hot air) types, according to Roberson. Both of these options are safer than open-coil heaters.
Yes, typically, standard home insurance covers heating systems, including space heaters, and the potential fire damage they may cause.
If you have any gas-fueled appliances (water heater, furnace, oven, clothes dryer, etc.) in your home, a carbon monoxide detector is imperative. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns carbon monoxide poisoning kills 200 people each year and causes another 10,000 to need hospital treatment.
Strange noises – Knocking, clanging, taps, banging… any out of the ordinary sounds coming from your water heater are cause for concern. Such noises suggest your heating element is broken, you've got too much sediment in your tank, or there's an issue with your valves, connections, or water flow.
An overheating electric water heater is a sign of a malfunction and could lead to the unit leaking or breaking down. Common causes of water being too hot include a faulty thermostat, a stuck pressure relief valve, sediment affecting the heating elements, or a failing heating element. Faulty thermostat.
Typically, the system's temperature and pressure relief valve allow excess pressure to escape the tank – if this component malfunctions, pressure continues to accumulate until the tank can no longer hold. Gas leaks also create the potential for a hot water heater explosion and the risk of a fire.
When this happens, you can usually solve the problem by flushing the water tank out. However, if banging, cracking, popping, or rumbling noises persist, you should call a technician, as you may be experiencing a more complicated and dangerous issue in the tank, potentially requiring you to replace your whole system.
You can spot a leaking water heater by a pool of water forming around the bottom of your tank. Typically, this sign indicates a potential critical failure, and you should schedule a repair immediately. In the interest of safety, disconnect all power sources to your water heater before diagnosing a problem.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
You should always keep safety top of mind regarding water heaters. A water heater leak can turn into an emergency situation. In rare circumstances, the buildup of water pressure can lead to an explosion. While uncommon, you must still take a water heater leak seriously since it must be repaired or replaced.
The general rule is to keep any flammable or combustible materials at least 12 to 18 inches away from your hot water heater.
How high should my gas water heater be off the ground? Your gas water heater should be 18 inches off of the ground, as per the National Fuel Gas Code. This is the standard for water heater installation requirements.
Don't set the thermostat above 130ºF on electric water heater with an insulating jacket or blanket – the wiring may overheat.