Dangers of Sediment Buildup
Exploding Water Heaters do happen! It’s rare, and usually always preventable. Here’s an outline of how it can happen, and some root causes to educate you as a homeowner.
Sediment! What a surprise! The usual culprit rears its ugly head again, in a few ways you might not have known. Sediment, as you now know, accumulates in ALL Water Heaters, and is caused by the minerals in your water precipitating out by the act of heating the water. The mineral content in city water and groundwater is about the same, hence why all Water Heaters fall victim to sediment buildup. Certain minerals are worse than others, as they cause corrosion.
This is the number one destroyer of Water Heater Tanks: corrosion. 24 million people in America have homes affected by highly corrosive water, read more here. The study found Urban areas to be most affected (I found this fact surprising)! As these minerals separate from the water they accumulate and remain in the bottom of your Water Tank, then mix and compact into each other and turn into a rock-like substance (Sediment). There is no simple way to remove Sediment besides our service here at Crystal Clear. As that corrosive sediment sits in your tank, it will find a way around the glass or plastic liner on the inside of your tank and will begin to eat away at the steel tank holding your hot and mildly pressurized water. If this deterioration goes unnoticed, it’s only a matter of time before you have a large mess on your hands!
As the tank ruptures, because it is no longer structurally sound, that hot and pressurized water will evacuate quickly, I’m sure you can mentally picture the mess. But! With an annual sediment excavating service from us at Crystal Clear, your tank will be renewed for decades to come! Book here!
Another way sediment can cause a massive tank failure is albeit much rarer, yet equally as alarming, when the Temperature Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve gets clogged.
Within the Water Heater, sediment particles ranging in size from rocks to sand can create small clusters that make their way up to the top and plug the TPR Valve. This valve is designed to vent excess pressure and water in the event the Water Heater can not regulate the temperate of the water – this can happen because of a faulty thermostat, and several other factors. Normally the TPR Valve will open, gushing out water and alerting you of problems with your water heater. In this rare case, the TPR Valve is plugged by some rogue particles of sediment. Meaning, there is no pressure relief for your water heater’s tank!
As you are reading this, I hope you’re picturing a Water Heater shooting through the roof of your house and making that mind-blown emoji face!
That’s how serious and dangerous this problem can be! Not to worry! After Crystal Clear removes the sediment from the inside of your water tank, this situation will NEVER happen! Book a service here, and let Crystal Clear save your Water Heater.
