Checking the Gas and Electric Water Heaters For Safe

In Gas Heaters

you should open the combustion chamber and have a gander inside.

First, turn the control to pilot. That way, you don't get your face singed. Then remove the outer hatch -- with gloves or pliers, if the tank has been firing. Then do the same with the inner cover, if it's an older heater. If it was made since 2004, you may only be able to peer as best you can through a small window.

What and where are the hatches? At the base of the heater, perhaps below the control, as here. This outer hatch, top photo, has two tabs that fit in two slots at the top. Others we've seen have the slots and tabs at the side. The inner hatch, below right, merely sits in the opening to the combustion chamber.

Shine a flashlight inside, onto the roof of the chamber. What does it look like? If the tank is sound, there shouldn't be much to see, except maybe some white marks from condensation.

If, however, the tank is headed for ruin, there will be signs of heavy rusting and pitting around the flue, rust flakes on and around the burner, and marks of water having run down the sides.

If you find these marks, begin shopping for a new tank, because yours probably doesn't have much life left. And don't forget to profit the new one so you don't have to do this again.

The first two pictures below are from our own water heater, now 30 years old after being maintained as we advocate here. It is not a perfect tank bottom; we've seen better. But it's a very good one. This heater may yet weep at our funeral. As to the third one, it wasn't so good. We wept at ITS funeral!

When you've finished your inspection, replace the hatches and BE SURE TO TURN THE CONTROL BACK TO ON. Otherwise, you or someone else will eventually be in for a cold shower.

In Electric Heaters

it's not quite as straightforward. There isn't a combustion chamber. But you can turn the power off and inspect all the fittings and open the element ports, left, and the port for the power cord on top of the tank, right. Look for signs of leakage and longtime corrosion.

Make sure the power is really off!

And when you're done, put everything back together the way you found it. It can affect the operation of the heater. Don't forget to turn the power back on or you'll have a cheap thrill the next time you take a shower.