Comments on: Episode 89: Exploding Water Heater http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89 Outcomes from all MythBusters Episodes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:12:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rick Norvell http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-12861 Rick Norvell Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:57:23 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-12861 I am a licensed plumber in Alaska and am very concerned about the comments from others about the water heater explosions being a myth as the pressure will back up into the main.The problem nobody is understanding is steam that occurs when the tank overheat as a result of low water and or bad thermostat. Water will expand something like 1600 times in an instant when it goes from water to steam, and is very explosive. It is not water pressure itself that is the problem, but instant steam volume. Think 1600 water heaters full of water at the same time, and all trying to occupy the space of one! I am a licensed plumber in Alaska and am very concerned about the comments from others about the water heater explosions being a myth as the pressure will back up into the main.The problem nobody is understanding is steam that occurs when the tank overheat as a result of low water and or bad thermostat. Water will expand something like 1600 times in an instant when it goes from water to steam, and is very explosive. It is not water pressure itself that is the problem, but instant steam volume. Think 1600 water heaters full of water at the same time, and all trying to occupy the space of one!

]]> By: Carmen http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-11810 Carmen Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:23:13 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-11810 did you read the summery? did you read the summery?

]]> By: felixnoir http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-11476 felixnoir Sat, 14 May 2011 23:19:38 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-11476 In Melbourne, Australia, in April or May 2011, a factory was badly damaged by a badly-maintained exploding water heater that ended up in a yard 200 yards away. I hope I'm remembering the newspaper story correctly. In Melbourne, Australia, in April or May 2011, a factory was badly damaged by a badly-maintained exploding water heater that ended up in a yard 200 yards away. I hope I’m remembering the newspaper story correctly.

]]> By: Cassandra H. http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-10754 Cassandra H. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:10:03 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-10754 I was in the cafeteria at Star when this happened. I was in 4th grade. I was seated on the same side of the cafeteria as the hot water heater at the last table furthest from it. It seemed to happen in slow motion, but I remember seeing the ceiling peeling upward as if I were on the inside of one of those old-timey sardine cans that you had to use a key to roll the top back with. When it started to come back down, rebar, dust, and cinder block chunks were falling everywhere. When I looked behind me, I realized that the blast had pushed our table about 15 feet back closer to the back wall. I don't remember hearing the blast, just watching as the roof peeled up like that. One of my friends was up closer to the lunch line and said he remembered flying high up in the air. The hot water heater was found in the playground. So, yeah, this was no myth to begin with. But I don't remember anyone having burn injuries. Wouldn't the lunch ladies have gotten burned, especially since the cash register was right next to the closet where the heaters were? That is a day all of us who were eating lunch will remember. I try to see what I can find about it every Jan 19th. If anyone runs across any of the old newspaper articles on this, there was a picture of a child's lower legs and feet and the rest was hidden by a hedge or bush. Makes you think that it was a dead body, but no, it was me. We had to wait sooooooo long for the emergency crews to arrive because dispatch had sent them to Star Spencer High School instead of Star Elem. School in Spencer. I had nightmares for years and still get very nervous when I see a cylinder shaped hot water heater. I was in the cafeteria at Star when this happened. I was in 4th grade. I was seated on the same side of the cafeteria as the hot water heater at the last table furthest from it. It seemed to happen in slow motion, but I remember seeing the ceiling peeling upward as if I were on the inside of one of those old-timey sardine cans that you had to use a key to roll the top back with. When it started to come back down, rebar, dust, and cinder block chunks were falling everywhere. When I looked behind me, I realized that the blast had pushed our table about 15 feet back closer to the back wall. I don’t remember hearing the blast, just watching as the roof peeled up like that. One of my friends was up closer to the lunch line and said he remembered flying high up in the air. The hot water heater was found in the playground. So, yeah, this was no myth to begin with. But I don’t remember anyone having burn injuries. Wouldn’t the lunch ladies have gotten burned, especially since the cash register was right next to the closet where the heaters were? That is a day all of us who were eating lunch will remember. I try to see what I can find about it every Jan 19th. If anyone runs across any of the old newspaper articles on this, there was a picture of a child’s lower legs and feet and the rest was hidden by a hedge or bush. Makes you think that it was a dead body, but no, it was me. We had to wait sooooooo long for the emergency crews to arrive because dispatch had sent them to Star Spencer High School instead of Star Elem. School in Spencer. I had nightmares for years and still get very nervous when I see a cylinder shaped hot water heater.

]]> By: Danny Coffey http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-10309 Danny Coffey Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:15:08 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-10309 I to remember the day of the explosion I was a boiler and pressure vessel mechanic at the time. today I am a licensed boiler and pressure vessel mechanic and licensed boiler operator. But people still don't relize what power a water heater can have, But we in Oklahoma know what can happen when not cared for, Their families still miss Them. but I to remember the day of the explosion I was a boiler and pressure vessel mechanic at the time. today I am a licensed boiler and pressure vessel mechanic and licensed boiler operator.

But people still don’t relize what power a water heater can have, But we in Oklahoma know what can happen when not cared for, Their families still miss Them.

but

]]> By: Phill http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-9564 Phill Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:11:09 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-9564 What if the cowboy had some NOT SAFETY matches on his back pocket? What if the cowboy had some NOT SAFETY matches on his back pocket?

]]> By: Garr http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-8516 Garr Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:21:30 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-8516 Well, I love this show and I rather enjoy the way you guys perform your tests. My only question on this episode is this: where can I get the body armor that Tory wore to perform the "being dragged behind a horse" test? Well, I love this show and I rather enjoy the way you guys perform your tests. My only question on this episode is this: where can I get the body armor that Tory wore to perform the “being dragged behind a horse” test?

]]> By: Jason O'Dell http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-7614 Jason O'Dell Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:58:18 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-7614 I have not seen the eppisode either but I was an eyewitness to the Star Elementary Explosion in Spencer, Oklahoma. I was in 1st grade and on the playground when the water heater exploded. I really don't remember much of what happened but I do remember the explosion, the cinderblock wall falling and the screams of the other children and adults. I have not seen the eppisode either but I was an eyewitness to the Star Elementary Explosion in Spencer, Oklahoma. I was in 1st grade and on the playground when the water heater exploded. I really don’t remember much of what happened but I do remember the explosion, the cinderblock wall falling and the screams of the other children and adults.

]]> By: James Denson http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-5115 James Denson Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:01:30 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-5115 I have not seen the episode, but I was an eyewitness. I was in third grade, I believe. I was sitting in the opposite corner of the cafeteria and our class was very close to taking our school trays back to the front. There was a sudden explosion and I put my head down and covered with my hands. When it was over I looked up and saw the opposite corner of the cafeteria collapsed, teachers and students screaming, and dust everywhere. I believe this may have something to do with my later mild asthma. By the way, my younger brother was outside on the playground where the water heater landed. I have not seen the episode, but I was an eyewitness. I was in third grade, I believe. I was sitting in the opposite corner of the cafeteria and our class was very close to taking our school trays back to the front. There was a sudden explosion and I put my head down and covered with my hands. When it was over I looked up and saw the opposite corner of the cafeteria collapsed, teachers and students screaming, and dust everywhere. I believe this may have something to do with my later mild asthma. By the way, my younger brother was outside on the playground where the water heater landed.

]]> By: c http://mythbustersresults.com/episode89/comment-page-1#comment-4622 c Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:20:37 +0000 http://mythbustersresults.com/episode86#comment-4622 Does anyone know, or did they mention on the show, why the hot water tank always failed down and rocketed up? Is it designed to do this? Wouldn't it be safer to have it fail up, rocket down (since these usually sit on a ground or sub-ground level) and have it pushed itself into the earth? I admit I know little of water heaters but this diagram: http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/hwh_tank_gas.htm --doesn't show any feature that would make it consistently fail down and rocket upwards. Any thoughts? Does anyone know, or did they mention on the show, why the hot water tank always failed down and rocketed up? Is it designed to do this? Wouldn’t it be safer to have it fail up, rocket down (since these usually sit on a ground or sub-ground level) and have it pushed itself into the earth? I admit I know little of water heaters but this diagram: http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/hwh_tank_gas.htm –doesn’t show any feature that would make it consistently fail down and rocket upwards. Any thoughts?

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