Mark Reinmiller
10-16-2013, 04:06 PM
I found this water heater at an inspection today. This is the third time I have seen this. Apparently when the pressure in the tank is somewhere above 300 PSI the convex top and concave bottom of the tank dish downward. Once you have seen this you can recognize it from a distance. The water pipes angle inward and the internal flue moves down from the top sheet metal housing. The bottom of the tank develops a reversed curvature.
At this house a pressure regulating valve and backflow preventer were present, the water heater temperature was set as high as possible, the TPV valve was probably obstructed with minerals, and the diaphragm in the expansion tank had failed. About all that is left to happen is the explosion.
BTW, Bradford White has a service bulletin on their website that explains this.
29546295472954929548
At this house a pressure regulating valve and backflow preventer were present, the water heater temperature was set as high as possible, the TPV valve was probably obstructed with minerals, and the diaphragm in the expansion tank had failed. About all that is left to happen is the explosion.
BTW, Bradford White has a service bulletin on their website that explains this.
29546295472954929548