How did my water heater cause a flood in my apartment?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the issues related to water heater failures and their consequences, specifically focusing on flooding incidents in apartments. Participants share personal experiences, speculate on potential causes, and discuss the quality of water heaters, including brand-specific comments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recounts experiencing two different water heater failures leading to flooding in their apartment, expressing dissatisfaction with the design of water heaters.
  • Another participant suggests that the issue could be related to the water quality or wiring, mentioning the possibility of replacing an anode.
  • Some participants share their own experiences, with one stating they have never had a water heater failure in 44 years, implying a difference in quality over time.
  • There are mentions of a specific incident in Paris where a water heater fell and caused a flood, highlighting the potential severity of such failures.
  • One participant questions the manufacturing location of the RheemGlas Fury water heater, suggesting that its production in Mexico might explain quality concerns.
  • Another participant defends the RheemGlas Fury as a high-quality heater, indicating that it met specific certification requirements for a solar water system, and questions the installation quality as a possible source of the leak.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences with water heaters, with some asserting that modern units are prone to failure while others claim long-term reliability. There is no consensus on the causes of the flooding incidents or the overall quality of water heaters.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific brands and models, but there is uncertainty regarding the reliability of these products and the factors contributing to their failures. The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and personal experiences, which may not represent broader trends.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals experiencing similar issues with water heaters, those interested in home maintenance, and consumers considering the purchase of water heaters may find this discussion relevant.

junglebeast
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2 years, 2 different kinds of water heaters, 2 flooded apartments.

Last time I was fortunate enough that all the leakage went out the door, but when it happened two days ago it flooded my bedroom and closet during the night. Yeah, that was fun...I step out of bed onto the carpet, squish...what the hell? who peed on the rug? wait..it's everywhere...

Basically, whoever is out there designing water heaters, I don't know who you are, but I'm not impressed.
 
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maybe it's the water there. or the wiring? isn't there some kind of anode you can replace?
 
I've never had a single water heater failure in 44 years.
 
junglebeast said:
2 years, 2 different kinds of water heaters, 2 flooded apartments.

Last time I was fortunate enough that all the leakage went out the door, but when it happened two days ago it flooded my bedroom and closet during the night. Yeah, that was fun...I step out of bed onto the carpet, squish...what the hell? who peed on the rug? wait..it's everywhere...

Basically, whoever is out there designing water heaters, I don't know who you are, but I'm not impressed.

I don't know if this applies to your situation or not, but the rate of failure for new products is ridiculous these days.

Just out of curiosity, where was it made?
 
Once in the building I was living in in Paris, firemen came in at 6am. They broke in a window on the wall next to mine. We are told a water heater fell, broke the water pipe, and the flood has been continuous over night. The neighbors downstairs noticed it in the morning, the ones upstairs are absent. Meanwhile, the fireman comes out of the window and shouts to the crew chief "It comes from above"...
 
negitron said:
I've never had a single water heater failure in 44 years.

They don't make 'em where they used to.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
I don't know if this applies to your situation or not, but the rate of failure for new products is ridiculous these days.

Just out of curiosity, where was it made?

It's a RheemGlas Fury
 
humanino said:
Once in the building I was living in in Paris, firemen came in at 6am. They broke in a window on the wall next to mine. We are told a water heater fell, broke the water pipe, and the flood has been continuous over night. The neighbors downstairs noticed it in the morning, the ones upstairs are absent. Meanwhile, the fireman comes out of the window and shouts to the crew chief "It comes from above"...

Wow... ...nice wake-up call!
 
humanino said:
Once in the building I was living in in Paris, firemen came in at 6am. They broke in a window on the wall next to mine. We are told a water heater fell, broke the water pipe, and the flood has been continuous over night. The neighbors downstairs noticed it in the morning, the ones upstairs are absent. Meanwhile, the fireman comes out of the window and shouts to the crew chief "It comes from above"...

I hope they were at least smashing windows according to a binary search rather than a linear one
 
  • #10
junglebeast said:
It's a RheemGlas Fury

Made in...? I was just curious if they are still made in the US.
 
  • #11
Ivan Seeking said:
Made in...? I was just curious if they are still made in the US.

Made in Mexico...well that explains it
 
  • #12
junglebeast said:
It's a RheemGlas Fury

That's just about the highest quality heater there is. I have one as the heat exchange unit for my solar water system. This specific unit was required in order for the entire system to be certified because no other tank met its quality. Exactly where is water leaking from the tank? Seems that the flaw is more likely to be in the person who connected the heater.
 

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