Water Heaters Can Emit Dangerous Fumes

When inspecting your prospective home for interior home checking, your interior home checking should also include checking of the water heater. Check to see how big the water heater is. Do you feel the 40 to 50 gallon heater is sufficient for you? It all depends on the size of your family and your usage. Check to see whether the heater is electric or gas. Many people have their own personal views on electric or gas water heaters, and other appliances. There is no doubt that gas water heaters are cheaper to use than the electric ones. As per the Department of Energy (DOE), the average dollar cost per million BTUs of heat with natural gas was $6.05, and with electricity was $24.15!

On an average, a typical American home uses 2900 kWh (Kilo Watt Hour) in water heater electricity only, each year. Still, for the following reasons, many prefer electric water heaters:

• Electric water heater costs less than the gas water heater and is cheaper to install.
• Also easier to install as no gas pipes or venting required.
• Safer to use as there is no fuel to leak or explode, and there are no combustion byproducts.
• More efficient, as gas tanks constantly lose heat through venting
• Electric heaters lose around 8% to 30% of the heat they generate, while gas heaters lose about 40% to 50%.

Interior Home Checking: Check For Leakages and Other Defects

Typically, a storage water heater lasts about 10 years. Check to see how old is the water heater installed in the home you are considering. If it is too old, it may not be very efficient. It is advisable to have it checked by experts.



The wooden base, if it supports the hot water heater, may eventually show signs of wear. In such a case, repairs should be made immediately before the base collapses. Check to see if there are any leakages. These could be because of improperly sealed hot or cold supply connections, relief valve, or drain valve. Tightening the threaded connections can easily rectify these problems.

Is the water heater tied down for earthquake? Many heaters in various homes are not secured. Water heaters are now being strapped down in newer constructions. Strapping down water heaters prevents water and gas lines from breaking during an earthquake. A typical water heater could weigh around 180 kilograms to 200 kilograms, and a simple precaution, such as strapping it down, can help minimize any potential damage to your home.

Check to see if the vents are fine. Broken vents and badly connected vents can cause dangerous fumes, such as carbon monoxide, to play havoc. Ensure that the water heater has functional and safe vents.