I have heard of the home inspection, moisture inspection, and even chimney inspection, but what is a water heater inspection?”
Don’t worry. We will explain everything about this inspection. This blog will explain the importance of a water heater inspection.
When you plan on purchasing a new house, a thorough inspection takes place before you finally seal the deal. But along with house inspection, a proper heater inspection is also mandatory.
Over the years, we have become dependent on these heaters for getting warm water, and their malfunction on cold days is a catastrophe. So, what should you do to avoid this situation? Get the heater thoroughly inspected.
Water heater inspection checklist
Here is the list for inspection.
Fuel safety inspection
Whether you have an electric or gas-fueled water heater, each comes with its own risk. In a proper inspection, fuel safety always gets checked.
In gas-based water heaters venting and fuel supply are the primary safety concerns. The gas lines and shutoff valves get included in the inspection.
Gas water heaters require proper venting through a chimney or vent line. The venting gets checked from the inside to ensure no carbon monoxide has buildup inside the home. Often soot deposits around the flue or vent are serious matters.
And for the electrical water heater, the wirings are checked to ensure there are no faults in the connections. Circuit size and grounding also contribute to a safe operation.
Water Tank Pressure
In an inspection, the pressure relief valve on the heater also gets checked. A hot water tank is under immense pressure, but sometimes the pressure on these tanks becomes too intense.
In such cases, the pressure relief valve vents off excess pressure from the tanks to ensure tanks don’t explode. An inspection becomes necessary to ensure that the valve is functioning.
The temperature
In the next part of the inspection, the temperature of the water gets checked. The temperature of the water should be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
It is the optimum temperature because it costs more to keep the water warmer.
The installation of units
Installation is crucial whether you have traditional tank heaters or tankless ones. An expert worker knows where to find the specific requirements for the water heater installation since every heater have different specifications based on the manufacturer.
Also, you can’t place your heaters anywhere in the house. It should be along the external wall and a gas water heater’s flame should be 18 inches off the floor.
Water heater suitability
The size of your heater is a concern. If you like getting warm water whenever you turn your tap on, pay attention to the heater that fits your home. The suitability of a tank depends upon its type. For a tankless water heater, you should consider the water flow rate and temperature you need. Count the number of devices the water heater will serve. It may include showers, sinks, or dishwashers.
Now check the flow rate of every hot water outlet. Next, check the water temperature of your tankless water heater. Most water enters the tankless heaters at 50 degrees but leaves at 120-degree temperature. Here the temperature rise was about 70 degrees.
On average most gas-fueled tankless water heaters can generate a 70-degree Fahrenheit temperature for a flow rate of five gallons per minute. Contrary to this, the electric tankless heater generates this temperature for a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute.
To find a suitable tank water heater, consider the first-hour rating. It shows the gallons of hot water the tank can supply every hour. You will find this info on labels. Then examine which time of the day you consume the most water.
Sum up the usage of hot water during the peak hours of the day, then get a perfect heater by matching this number to the first-hour ratings of the heater.
Yearly water heater inspection
Both the traditional tank heaters and the tankless ones require maintenance. All types of water heaters get benefit from the annual flushing and inspection.
Flushing the heaters remove all sediments and mineral deposits from the heater’s bottom. The mineral deposits in the unit heat the water more in the bottom and stress the tank.
Tankless units demand annual flushing to prevent limescale buildup. If not treated, the lines get clogged, and the water supply is damaged.