I studied the diaphragm for an electric water heater. What I gathered through my observation of the water heater is how cold water flows into the tank and how it is heated before flowing out. There is a thermostat set outside at the top level of the electric water heater along with heating elements at the top and bottom inside of the tank. Once water is heated on top then the bottom element would heat the water at the bottom. Hot water is then flows into the hot water pipe and then through the faucets.
Inspected water heater. It is a 30 gallon Reliance. It did have a UL sticker. Shut off valve was in correct spot. Water heater was located in bedroom, in a non confined area. Water heater had items all around and on top, would recommend clearing items away fro neater heater.
This electric water heater is installed in an upstairs utility closet and shows no evidence of corrosion or leaking on or around the heater. According to the data plate, this is a 65 gallon tank manufactured in 2008. The service life expectancy for water heaters in Florida is 6-12 years. As this unit is nearing the end of its expected service life, I recommend planning and budgeting for replacement in the near future.
In the article Estimating the Lifespan of a Water Heater, the construction qualities are discussed of water heaters with different warranty ranges. Typically, water heaters with longer warranties have more insulation as well as thicker or higher wattage heating elements. This has the effect of reduced mineral and scum buildup.
The essay for today will be on flue piping for a water heater. Piping is very important to check on every home inspection. Look carefully for the proper bends in the pipe and for the proper amount of screws to keep it together.
The topic today will be on checking the flue pipe on a gas water heater. It is very important to go slow and pay close attention when you are checking the flue on a gas hot water heater. Look for the proper screws and make sure you note if there are to many bents in the pipe.
In reading water hardness, most of the points made where common sense. The first point of hard water ruining the fibers in clothing or making them look dingy, was new information. Outside of cosmetic and clogging of supply lines, I had no idea it’s effect on fabric.
This is a picture of an electric water heater. It also has an inline solar panel that’s attached to the south western part of the roof. As seen in the photo it is equipped with a TPR valve in the top middle of the tank.
This Photo is of a 2.5 gallon electric water heater located in the bathroom of the Jobsite Trailer. This water heater operates on 120vac and uses 1440 watts. This is an optimal unit for this location as gas or propane is not available. There is a valve on the cold water supply and a Temperature and pressure combination relief valve as required by code. There is a seismic restraint installed on the tank.
This water heater located in an attic has been leaking around the lower heating element. There is rust present around the heating element connection and around the base of the water heater indicating that this condition has been occurring for an extended period of time. Replacement of the water heater is recommended.
An expansion tank on a water heater should be mounted on the hot water pipe ideally above the water heater. The next best location for the expansion tank is above the water heater in an inverted position. The expansion tank can be mounted horizontally provided it has mounting straps to help carry the weight of the tank thus taking the weight off the water pipe.
This water heater shows a silver power connection but there is no shut off switch next to the unit. However on the right, directly outside of the storage room is the electrical panel. The panel legend has the Hot Water Heater correctly labeled with the correct 30 amp breaker (shown in the center pictures).
This works for me and I would not call them on not having a off switch right next to the unit.
Although there are court cases that set precedents in favor or home inspectors, the better road to take is to always get a signed contract from the client before the inspection. In this age of instant communication and instant pay options there is always a way to get through to a seller with at least a PDF follow the drop downs and have an electronic signature back in a few minutes.
In this digital age we don’t have to settle for an analog excuse.
The electric water heater is located in a confined space without a water leak catch pan or a TPR discharge pipe. The discharge pipe should not terminate more than 6 inches above the floor, waste receptor or should be routed outside. A licensed plumber should perform the work.
The water heater expansion tank is designed to help the water heater with hot water volume fluctuations. The expansion tank should be installed above the water heater and should be properly supported depending on if it is oriented vertically or horizontally. The inspector should check for corrosion and leakage when observing an expansion tank as well.
Attached are pictures of a 4 year old, 32,000 BTUH gas water heater located in a closet space inside the sunroom of a house. The water heater has been certified by AHRI as indicated on the label and is accessible for inspection, maintenance, etc.
Bats are nocturnal mammals found throughout the world. Bat infestations in homes, especially attics, can be a health hazard as bats are know to carry dangerous diseases such as Rabies. Indications of infestation in your home would be clusters of guano at the exits of bats’ roost, milky white urine stains on windows, squeaking, scratching and crawling in attics and walls just before dusk and dawn. Once infestation has been determined, but removal must be done. Points of entry can be sealed off with caulk at night so bats cannot return to the house. Please note, bat removal should not be done during summers months as baby bats are unable to fly and will starve to death. Homeowners should always be wary of bat infestations.
The image that I chose for the research assignment shows the top portion of a gas hot water heater. As we learned in the videos there are many different components that make up a hot water heater. With gas hot water heater a main concern is making sure that there is adequate ventilation. This is especially important if the water heater is located within the living space instead of in a garage.
The article that I chose to research involved Estimating the lifespan of a water heater. The article states that your typical water heater will last about 10 years. However there are four primary factors that can add to or shorten that average amount. They are correct installation, usage, construction quality and maintenance. Installation and quality are determined by the homeowner, they can purchase a cheaper hot water heater and install it themselves, but that may lead to issues down the road. Usage varies and many hot water heaters will not have proper maintenance performed until the water heater is near the end of it’s lifespan.
In the image Im providing is of a Whirlpool water heater. It is UL rated. has a phase one connection. The volts range from 208 to 240. the upper element is 3380 to 4500 the lower is the same. Total connected watts is 3380 to 4500. it is the right size water heater for the unit it is in.
