this episode hase a good explosion

I just finished watching the exploding water heater episode, but they only tried an electric one. What about a gas water heater? The last few places I've lived have had gas water heaters, including the one I live in right now and I'm really curious to see what a gas one would do.

here's a website that talks about the gas water heater having a possibility of exploding.....
http://www.homeinstitute.com/gas-water-heaters.htm

I was disappointed about the production of that particular episode. They knew that the water heater would fly a few hundred feet in the air, but they didn't have any cameras pointed up.

I don't understand that.

But I do love the show.
Evan

quote:

Originally posted by mythmod:
Can a water heater build up enough pressure and blow through the roof?

Talk About It Here!

MythMod

adam mentioned on this episode that there was a report of a hot water heater exploding in someone's house and it supposedly flew 439 feet into the air... now how in the heck was that measured if it was an accidental explosion? did someone just happen to be hanging around in the sky above the house with a 500 foot measuring tape?

The water heater explosion test is bogus and I am very disapointed. Sure, they created a rocket I'll give them that but after watching the show a second time I realized that they mentioned that the tank was only filled 80 percent full. Everyone knows that there is no such thing as a water heater that isn't 100 percent full of water and since air compresses and water of course does not, the results of this test would be completely different with a "realistic" situation such as a full hot water tank. I say there has to be a do over and this episode featuring the only 80 percent full tank should never be aired again!

I dont thimk that a H2O heater can build enought pressure when it is conneted to a house water system I think the copper piping will burst first. The heater on this episode was completely closed off. I hope they revisit this myth and add some piping just like it was installed in a home.

I want to know if the new "energy" saving hot water tanks are just as dangerous as the older types are. Not sure it worth a revisit but i would be interested n knowing. I am moving to a new home and a energy saving hot water tank has been installed.

Mark, as previously stated, there have been numerous reports of heaters doing exactly what the Mythbuser's heater did. The heaters were connected and working up to the time they literally went through the roof. You can doubt it all you want but facts are facts.

And spikepei, even the old heaters are safe if everything is working the way it should. The newer ones can be just as dangerous if the safety devices are defective or bypassed.
.

quote:

Originally posted by schneegoo:
The water heater explosion test is bogus and I am very disapointed. Sure, they created a rocket I'll give them that but after watching the show a second time I realized that they mentioned that the tank was only filled 80 percent full. Everyone knows that there is no such thing as a water heater that isn't 100 percent full of water and since air compresses and water of course does not, the results of this test would be completely different with a "realistic" situation such as a full hot water tank. I say there has to be a do over and this episode featuring the only 80 percent full tank should never be aired again!

It doesen't matter if the water heater was filled 100% with water or not. The pressure was over 350 psi and the water in the heater was superheated. What happens in this case is that as soon as the tank starts to fail, the pressure in the tank starts to decrease. All that superheated water now flashes instantly to steam. This will happen whether the tank has some air in it or not. That is why all boiler explosions are so devastating. It's all that energy that is stored in the superheated water and released as steam in a fraction of a second.

The Mythbusters test was valid, with or without the tank being 100% filled. In fact, the explosion would have been worse if the tank had more water in it.
.

Hello friends,

Water heaters normally explodes due to carelessness and sometimes it can occur by chance.
Water heaters are equipped with pressure-relief valves -- typically placed on the top of the heat. The valves are designed to open immediately to relieve pressure if steam builds up in the heaters.
Although rare, pressure explosions of water heaters do occur.
I saw one episode in TV on 1993 water heater explosion a 40-year-old water heater exploded in a home in South St. Paul, Minn. The 200-pound tank shot through a floor, ceiling and roof like a missile.
It was really a shocking scene..for some time I got a major shock..
So I always take care of this problem and regularly check up and does servicing of my water heater.

Nelson
http://www.a1plumbers.com

This is the coolest episode I have seen. I am a plumber and I am amazed how violent this explosion is. These things are a serous danger. I cant tell you how many times I go to replace a water heater and find the T&P valve capped or removed. That pressure the heater exploded at can easily reach in a house with a closed system, due to thermal expansion a faulty regulator and removal of the safety device.

I would like to see more of these experiments. when you tested the water heater you only tested electric heaters, would a gas water heater turn into a rocket as well? They are doughnut shaped inside unlike the reverse dome in the electric heater that gave it the downward propulsion.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark50:
I dont thimk that a H2O heater can build enought pressure when it is conneted to a house water system I think the copper piping will burst first. The heater on this episode was completely closed off. I hope they revisit this myth and add some piping just like it was installed in a home.

I have personally made a potato gun out of copper pipe and filled it to almost 800 psi with a paintball co2, it never ruptured the copper pipe but eventually the ball valves started to leak after about 100 shots. regular solder and fittings.