Water Heater Hazards

When it comes to water heater hazards, nothing is more alarming for a homeowner than seeing a fire raging. It’s not extremely common but it’s important to always remember that any type of gas appliance can be a hazard. Not only can they cause an unexpected fire, they can also lead to serious property damage, injury and even death.

In Part 1 of this 3 Part Series, on Water Heater Hazards, we will be talking about gas water heaters and water heater fires.

Help, My Water Heater Is On Fire!

We received a water heater service call from a property owner in Riverside County. The customer was experiencing an alarming, water heater hazard. The owner stated that his gas water heater which was less than 10 years old, was on fire.

Immediately, we gave him the emergency water heater shutdown instructions to shut off the gas to the unit. We then sent out one of our local water heater technicians to asses the damage. Our goal was to eliminate any further fire dangers and make necessary repairs. The homeowner easily located his home’s gas shut off valve. He then shut off the gas flow and waited for our tech to arrive.

Upon arrival, our technician determined that this particular tank model was a 2015 Whirlpool Water Heater. Aside from the fire the homeowner saw, the unit appeared to be in great shape. After completing his initial assessment, he determined that the problem was the burner pot assembly. The burner pot had split and was leaking gas outside of the assembly.

Our technician then replaced the burner pot assembly, turned the gas back on and checked the unit for leaks. Once he determined there were no more leaks, the customer’s water heater was fired back up and heating water normally.

Burner pot assemblies ignite the gas from the pilot light to heat the water. In this case, the burner pot split and was leaking gas, which caused a fire at the base of the unit.

Prevention and Maintenance

Fire hazards are not uncommon when it comes to gas powered appliances. For homeowners with gas water heaters and other gas appliances, it is important to have them checked and serviced annually by a licensed, water heater technician. Regularly maintained, you can not only prevent fire hazards, you will also keep your unit efficient and working like it should.

If you smell gas, see flames or notice any other signs of potential water heater hazards, do not wait! Call a local water heater repair company that you can trust. Call All Star Water Heaters Inc, Toll Free at 800-727-0977.

Proudly serving Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego County customers. For Water Heater Sales, Service and Repair, call the experts at All Star Water Heaters Inc.