Imploding hot water heater?

[Eric G.]

I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater imploded.
I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make sure I'm not the
idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible, but being on city water,
wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood have to be running at the
same time to cause enough of a vacuum for implosion on a vessel that is
supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI of pressure? And that would be
only after everything else between the main and the HWH survived the vacuum
first.

Anyone ever heard of this happening?

I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what he told
me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old (installed
with the HWH).

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is a lot
of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever heard of a HWH
imploding.

Eric

[drd]

Post by Eric G.
I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater
imploded. I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make sure
I'm not the idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible, but
being on city water, wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood
have to be running at the same time to cause enough of a vacuum for
implosion on a vessel that is supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI
of pressure? And that would be only after everything else between
the main and the HWH survived the vacuum first.
Anyone ever heard of this happening?
I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what he
told me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old
(installed with the HWH).
Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is
a lot of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever
heard of a HWH imploding.
Eric

well ....

if the vessel were full of steam, and it were suddenly cooled, the steam
would condense with a large change of volume and possibly create enough
vacuum to implode the vessel ...

this used to be a standard physics experiment at school - get a large screw
top can - remove the lid and boil a small volume of water in the can. when
it is boiling nicely put the lid on a run the can under cold water ... it
folds like a house of cards! this,
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000043 is the closest I
can find on the interweb ...

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000043

[Bob Wheatley]

Post by Eric G.
I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater imploded.
I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make sure I'm not the
idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible, but being on city water,
wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood have to be running at the
same time to cause enough of a vacuum for implosion on a vessel that is
supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI of pressure? And that would be
only after everything else between the main and the HWH survived the vacuum
first.
Anyone ever heard of this happening?
I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what he told
me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old (installed
with the HWH).
Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is a lot
of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever heard of a HWH
imploding.
Eric

All the scientific hypothesizing bullshit aside....
Bullshit! :>)
If his limit switch fails then his thermostat also had to fail, his T&P had
to fail, and he has to have a check valve on his incoming domestic supply.
And what does those conditions lead to?
Excessive pressure. Not vacuum.
He's pullin' your chain.



Bob Wheatley

[drd]

Post by Bob Wheatley

Post by Eric G.
I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater
imploded. I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make
sure I'm not the idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible,
but being on city water,
wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood have to be running
at the same time to cause enough of a vacuum for implosion on a
vessel that is supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI of pressure? And
that would be only after everything else between the main and
the HWH survived the vacuum
first.
Anyone ever heard of this happening?
I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what
he told me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old
(installed with the HWH).
Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is
a lot of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever
heard of a HWH imploding.
Eric

All the scientific hypothesizing bullshit aside....
Bullshit! :>)
If his limit switch fails then his thermostat also had to fail, his
T&P had to fail, and he has to have a check valve on his incoming
domestic supply. And what does those conditions lead to?
Excessive pressure. Not vacuum.
He's pullin' your chain.
Bob Wheatley

IANAP ... but IAAS

I feel I have to support the hypothetical scientific viewpoint here ...

Is there not a scenario where the cold water feed fails for some other
disconnected reason (dodgy check valve perhaps?) - the boiler continues to
heat the little water there is, filling the boiler with steam and hot water
vapour - the cold water feed is then reinstated for some other disconnected
reason, resulting in rapid cooling of the boiler vessel - the pressure
relief valve would snap shut and a pressure drop would be seen. I couldn't
comment on whether this would then be sufficient to collapse the boiler
vessel but I have done the can experiment and can vouch for the force of
atmospheric pressure!

Most likely is that your mate is 'confused' ...

What's the US plumbing view on Evolution vs Creationism? Are those fossils
really only 7000 years old or are they pulling our chain????

[Bob Wheatley]

Post by drd

Post by Bob Wheatley

Post by Eric G.
I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater
imploded. I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make
sure I'm not the idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible,
but being on city water,
wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood have to be running
at the same time to cause enough of a vacuum for implosion on a
vessel that is supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI of pressure? And
that would be only after everything else between the main and
the HWH survived the vacuum
first.
Anyone ever heard of this happening?
I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what
he told me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old
(installed with the HWH).
Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is
a lot of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever
heard of a HWH imploding.
Eric

All the scientific hypothesizing bullshit aside....
Bullshit! :>)
If his limit switch fails then his thermostat also had to fail, his
T&P had to fail, and he has to have a check valve on his incoming
domestic supply. And what does those conditions lead to?
Excessive pressure. Not vacuum.
He's pullin' your chain.
Bob Wheatley

IANAP ... but IAAS
I feel I have to support the hypothetical scientific viewpoint here ...

Okay, but...
This isn't a controlled experiment. It's an alleged incident occurring in
real world conditions on a real world plumbing system.
The conditions you describe DO NOT exist without purposely designing an
unsafe plumbing system. Which of course is the direct opposite intent of
modern systems. (excluding Europe of course!) :>)

Post by drd
What's the US plumbing view on Evolution vs Creationism? Are those
fossils really only 7000 years old or are they pulling our chain????

While I believe plumbing has evolved, each system is most definitely
created.:>)


Bob Wheatley

[k***@adelphia.net]

I fully agree with Bob here, the guys pulling your chain. Unless you
can explain how 14.7lbs of external pressure could crush a water
heater, and that would be in a perfect vacuum at sea level.

kenny b

[drd]

Post by Bob Wheatley
Okay, but...
This isn't a controlled experiment. It's an alleged incident
occurring in real world conditions on a real world plumbing system.
The conditions you describe DO NOT exist without purposely designing
an unsafe plumbing system. Which of course is the direct opposite
intent of modern systems. (excluding Europe of course!) :>)

aha - you've seen British plumbing! Spanish is worse though ... and dont
get me started on the French - sacre bleu!

Post by Bob Wheatley

Post by drd
What's the US plumbing view on Evolution vs Creationism? Are those
fossils really only 7000 years old or are they pulling our chain????

While I believe plumbing has evolved, each system is most definitely
created.:>)

LOL

8-)

[Eric G.]

Post by Bob Wheatley

Post by Eric G.
I've got some idiot at work telling me that his hot water heater
imploded. I'm telling him that is impossible, but I want to make sure
I'm not the idiot. Technically, I guess anything is possible, but
being on city water,
wouldn't every fire hydrant in the neighborhood have to be running at
the same time to cause enough of a vacuum for implosion on a vessel
that is supposed to be able to withstand 300PSI of pressure? And
that would be only after everything else between the main and the HWH
survived the vacuum
first.
Anyone ever heard of this happening?
I'm 99% sure that it exploded on him, but he was lucky. From what he
told me, his limit switch has failed, and his T&P is 15 years old
(installed with the HWH).
Anyway, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet myself, so there is
a lot of specualtion here, but I just want to know if anyone ever
heard of a HWH imploding.
Eric

All the scientific hypothesizing bullshit aside....
Bullshit! :>)
If his limit switch fails then his thermostat also had to fail, his
T&P had to fail, and he has to have a check valve on his incoming
domestic supply. And what does those conditions lead to?
Excessive pressure. Not vacuum.
He's pullin' your chain.
Bob Wheatley

Agreed Bob, but I had to ask. Incidentally he DOES NOT have a check
valve on his service, which just may be what saved his ass.

Thanks for your input.

Eric

[Eric G.]

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[Alan Scobie]

replying to Eric G., Alan Scobie wrote:
I am a plumber of 45years and I have had to replace 2 hot water cyllinders
that imploded

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[Ninja]

replying to Alan Scobie, Ninja wrote:
This is a little off of the subject but I wanted to ask you guys who are
experienced plumbers. Today I needed to change a angle stop under my kitchen
sink on the hot water side. I told my little brother to shut off the valve
thinking he would shut off the main supply valve to the house. He shut off the
ball valve on the hot water heater without me knowing about it. I went to
drain the hot water from the line and I heard the tank pop and make some
subtle crackling noises. I immediately turned the hot water off. I realized he
turned off the wrong valve. I only drained maybe a 1/4 gallon of water out. Do
you think the heater tank has been damaged from this ? Thank you for any help
with this.

--
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[Jon Williams]

This post might be inappropriate. Click to display it.

[Julia Milstead]

replying to Eric G., Julia Milstead wrote:
Our hot water tank just imploded. I never heard of it before, but trust me -
it IMploded. The parts on the top of the tank were sucked right into the
tank and the pipes sucked into it. The cause is not certain, but the water
mains in our neighborhood were being flushed that day which may have caused a
vacuum in our system. There is a pressure valve that is supposed to prevent
that from happening, but apparently it failed because of some corrosion.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/plumbing/imploding-hot-water-heater-2077-.htm