Most residential hot water heaters transfer heat directly from the combustion products through the tank wall and floor into the water. The hot water tank is both the storage compartment and the heat exchanger. Most gas and oil domestic water heaters are center flue type. All of the combustion products go up through the center of the water heater. External flue water heaters are also available, although they are not common on single family homes.
Sacrificial anodes are typically magnesium or aluminum and their purpose is to attract the chemicals in the water thereby protecting the water tank materials.
Items Checked For
- T & P (temperature and pressure) valve must drain outside or be directed down to no more than 6 inches from the floor.
- A readily accessible valve for cold water must be installed.
- A shut off valve for the appliance in the same room and upstream of union or connection device.
- Single wall flue pipe for interior, double wall if penetrating attic. Manufactures clearances are usually 1 inch.
As a homeowner you can inspect the water heater to determine if it is a good candidate to keep and maintain. A tank's age is usually encoded in its serial number. If it begins A-83 or 0183, the tank was built in January 1983. B-83 and 0283 mean February 1983, and so on. If it begins 8301, the tank was built in the first week of 1983; 8352 would mean the last week of that year. Knowing the tank's age is a start. Inspect all tank fittings to get more information. Do you see any signs of rusting or leakage? Look into the combustion chamber and the flue of fuel-burning units. (A flashlight and an inspection mirror are a big help.) While slight rust or water marking from condensation are not a problem, heavy rust and water streaks are danger signals. A pile of rusty scale on top of the burner suggests that tainted air has damaged the flue.
New energy efficient hot water tanks save you money, I believe 15% of the energy of conventional hot water tanks goes straight up the flue. High efficiency hot water tanks only vent when running.
Prolonging Life of Hot Water Tank
The best thing that a homeowner can do to prolong the life of his hot water tank is to flush out the sediment every 6 months. If not close to your floor drain, hook up a garden hose to plastic fitting, and drain the water from the bottom of your tank, flushing out the sediment that has built up.
Having your home inspected by a professional home inspector will ensure that all visible defects will be identified and explained to you allowing peace of mind during your home buying experience. Using Barrie Home Inspections guarantee's this with 100% Money-Back guarantee with no questions asked if not satisfied.