I was told about this video and it really is worth seeing. I had dropped by the Bellingham Technical College today, where we are running a college level inspection training program, and Charlie Buell, a friend and instructor, told me to check out this posting at youtube. I cannot tell you, in my experience, how many times I have had someone argue with me about my citing the lack of a TPR (temperature pressure relief) valve, or the fact it is routed to drain up instead of down which can easily keep it from working at all. I had not heard of the program here, mythbusters, but I do not watch TV. This pair built a small shed, to California building standards, and then put the water heater in it. The tank did not have a TPR valve and they must have had the thermostat locked on (which can and does happen in real life as these are not such sophisticated devices). Anyway, if you work with people who are buying houses, take a look at this video and you will see first hand just how important it is to have a properly operating and installed TPR valve and drain. Watch the water heater rocket here.
Thanks for dropping by.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspection
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Steven,
I saw the episode last week. Watts has an old film I watched during a training seminar. It was produced I believe some time in the 40s. They did the same thing. Deliberately blew up water heaters. It is quite a spectacular explosion. Back in the day before TPR valves homes were regularly blow to bits and people killed because of water heater explosions.
One more safety item to point out about TPR valves. This was discussed during the seminar I attended on heating systems. NEVER open a valve that is leaking or discharging water. If you can shut the unit down and leave the house. Then call a plumber or heating professional.
Opening the valve when a unit is in an over pressure-temperature state can also cause an explosion. The sudden change in pressure and rush of air into the unit causes the boiling point to lower. The result is the release of a massive quanity of steam.
Think about this factoid; One cup of water produces 800 cups of steam. How many cups of water are in a 40 gallon water heater?
Good information Steven.