This is a great video of what can go wrong with water heaters if they are not installed correctly. It also shows what happens without proper maintenance. Please do not try this at home, as it may be hazzardous to your health
Wow. That was impressive. I check mine evry year, but I think I'll go do it again now. BTW, who selected the music for that video. It seemed comically out of place.
Not a very likely scenario in a home ( I have never heard of one actually doing that), but a remote possibility. I try not to scare clients into action, or be an alarmist.
There is an even better video on youtube Look for Mythbusters-Exploding Water Heater.
Fun to watch, not fun to have happen. I always make a bit of a big deal out of this when found. It's a very dangerous condition. sometimes it is important to be a bit of an alarmist so they get the point and not just blow it off. (no pun intended)
Hey, Don.
I see Kevin Corsa's comment. Actually, exploding water heaters are way too common. We had two here in San Diego in 2003 within months of each other.
Additionally, I know of at least two recent ones, one in Phoenix and one in Charlotte. See my blog at my home inspection company for the links to those two, as well as to the Mythbusters YouTube video. My specific post on the topic is at
http://activerain.com/blogsview/872137/How-to-get-your-water-heater-to-turn-into-a-rocket-pictures-and-videos-included
I perform comprehensive inspections involving a property's major visible, structural and mechanical systems for real estate owners and prospective buyers. The items examined in a typical inspection include the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, foundation, roof, exterior and interior structures and surfaces, and built-in appliances. The visual inspection culminates in a set of comprehensive, computer generated reports describing the condition of the items and systems inspected
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Good grief. I am running downstairs to check mine right now!