Your Water Heater Can EXPLODE! Mythbusters, Revisited
Mythbusters confirmed it. Everything you need to know about exploding water heaters!
Hot water is as simple as turning on a faucet—it’s a basic part of living as a human being in the developed world. It hasn’t always been that easy though. Before the modern standard of water heating units in every building and home, hot water was considered a luxury; it was not a necessity, nor a standard. Happily for us modern folk, hot water is readily available and no longer a luxury.
Please take a moment of silence and thank your water heater for all it does.
Moving on…
What most people don’t know is that their water heater has a dark side—when it’s not properly cared for, it can be a hazard. Potentially a life-threatening, explosive hazard. It’s true: water heaters can explode, causing massive damage and even death.
Always Hire Trained Water Heater Professionals
Image “Water Heater” courtesy of Flickr user jasonwoodhead23 licensed under CC by 2.0.
Water heaters are 100% necessary these days, but very dangerous when not properly maintained. If you’re concerned about the state of your residential or commercial water heater, ALWAYS contact a trained water heater technician.
We’re not suggesting your business is sitting on top of a ticking time bomb. Water heaters are generally very safe, especially when properly maintained. Just like your car or even electricity, water heaters are usually pretty safe and predictable when treated with the proper care and respect. Think about it this way: People drive, use electricity and use water heaters every day—but you only notice how dangerous these things can be when there’s a problem.
So please, trust our expert advice—leave your water heater maintenance services to the professionals. Your water heating unit has a lot of monitoring sensors and alarms that aid in preventing things like fires and carbon monoxide leaks; professionals know exactly how to work with these, keeping your unit working optimally and safely at all times.
MythBusters, Revisited: Explosions are Real
Made popular by the television series MythBusters, the water heater explosion is an entertaining, yet undeniable reality of your water heating unit. Damage to the internal machinery due to improper maintenance can cause a water heater to literally explode.
Generally, an explosion can occur when the T&P (temperature and pressure relief) valve is damaged, plugged or blocked. When the unit is running, the T&P valve allows your water heater to release steam, relieving pressure and managing rising temperatures—pressure can build up if this valve stops functioning properly, and given enough pressure, the water heater will explode.
NEVER block your water heater’s T&P valve. If you notice water on the floor, this is likely a normal function of your water heater. (Unless it’s a LOT of water—then your water heater may need replacement.) Again, if you’re concerned about your water heating unit, do not touch the unit—call a trained water heater professional.
If pressure builds up inside your water heater, it’ll act just like a rocket, blasting straight up, spraying super-heated water in its wake, while destroying whatever it blasts through. The force from the explosion can even crack a foundation!
An Additional Potential Hazard to be Aware of…
Carbon Monoxide
Improper ventilation is the most common cause of this deadly problem. If sections of the flue become misaligned, separated or damaged, carbon monoxide can begin leaking into the building. Being an odorless, invisible gas, carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
To avoid this problem: Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your establishment. If you suspect a problem or a leak or carbon monoxide, contact a trained professional immediately. If you smell natural gas, call your gas company immediately – they have methods in place to detect and identify the source of gas leaks and can safely shut off the gas until the problem gets fixed.
Water Heater Safety Facts:
- Pressure Rating:
Burn Safety Temperature Chart
- 2x above the pressure rating will turn your water heater into a rocket.
- Do not turn up the maximum heating temperature beyond 180˚F.
- Higher temps can easily burn people, so unless you need 180˚F for sanitation purposes, even that is much too high to be safe for general use.
- Water temperature should NEVER exceed 212˚F. Any higher can result in pressure levels exceeding the unit’s safety limits. This can cause a catastrophic explosion.
- Do not store anything near or around your water heating unit, especially flammable materials.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors near the unit as an added safety measure.
Want to see more water heaters exploding? Click here.
Again, we cannot stress this enough: Always rely on a trained water heater professional! Water heaters are not a DIY project unless you have proper training. Be safe, everyone!
Over a decade ago, a specialist for water heaters showed me several pictures of water heaters that exploded. He said it was happening all the time. They explode up And out, destroying everything in their path. Now every time I go by one or wash my laundry I get uncomfortable.
Yes, it’s definitely something that can happen – and can cause a LOT of damage if it does. However, telling you it happens “all the time” was probably a slight exaggeration. Water heaters are generally safe because they are equipped with safety mechanisms specifically meant to prevent this type of thing from happening at all. It’s when those parts fail that the dangers can arise. The first post we wrote on this topic (https://reliablewater247.com/water-heater-explosions-are-real/) has some more details about what factors can actually cause a water heater to explode and how to prevent it – perhaps that post can ease some of your discomfort the next time you do laundry? We hope so! Thanks for reading!
It’s good to know that water heaters are generally very safe, especially when properly maintained. My wife and I are working on building a new house, and we’ll need to get a water heater installed. We want to make sure that our home is as safe as possible at all times, so we’ll be sure to get the heater properly maintained.
I live at a T & R properties apartments, the residences at scioto crossing in Dublin, OH. My water heater has been making popping noises since I moved in. Maintenance has come by several times but nothing they’ve done has fixed it. I am legitimately concerned about it exploding
Thanks for the comment! We understand your concern – when water heaters start popping it can sound scary! The good news is, a popping sound does not mean your water heater is going to explode, so you’re probably not in any danger with that noise. The likely cause of the popping sound is a layer of sediment that has built up on the bottom of your water heater as a result of hard water. When hard water is heated, minerals in the water (such as lime, iron, etc.) get separated out & settle to the bottom of the tank. As years go by these sediment deposits build up unevenly, creating a layer of “mineral sludge” with tiny holes that naturally fill with water from the tank. Since this sediment layer is directly above the heating element, the water inside the tiny holes gets hot really fast, and as steam escapes each hole it makes the popping noise. While this isn’t dangerous to you, there’s also not much that can be done to fix it at this stage either, unfortunately. We actually list it as an Early Sign of Water Heater Failure, because this significant build-up causes extra stress on your tank and heating elements, and will eventually lead to your water heater failing.