In this Straits Times article, a storage water heater at Marine Parade ruptured, its impact smashing through glass!
Storage heaters are like every other electronic device. They will go haywire when installed badly.
Serious cases are a result of many small things going wrong. What happened here?
There are THREE safety devices in storage heaters that prevent this.
Safety Device 1. Thermostat
Every heater has a thermostat in it. A thermostat is an electronic device which helps to regulate the temperature inside your heater tank. Safe operational temperatures for water heaters are between 50 to 75 degrees.
The thermostat will stop the heating element inside the heater from working when the temperature reaches 75 degrees.
What to look out for:
You will know that the thermostat is not working when the heater does not produce hot water at all, despite the main heater switch (with red light) being on
Safety Device 2. Thermal cut out
A thermal cutout cuts off the heater completely in case it reaches a dangerous temperature of 93ºC. This may happen if the thermostat is faulty.
When the heater 'cuts out', it will trip. Heater trips can't be reset by ordinary people like you and I. For your safety, this can only be done by a service team.
Before doing a reset, the team will perform a check on the thermostat to make sure it is working well. Faulty thermostats are a common reason why the thermal cut out is activated.
Safety Device 3. Pressure Relief Valve
This last safety device is the least understood and most often overlooked. Yet, a heater will barely last 3 days without it.
The pressure relief valve is a must for every storage heater. It's function? To release pressure in the tank when the water is heated.
The release is done through little drop of water when the heater is connected. Do note! The heater only has to be connected, it does not have to be on to release these water drops.
⚠️ Make sure your relief valve is not blocked so that water can flow out freely.
⚠️ Tiny drops are ok, but a constant flow of water is a safety risk!
⚠️ The drain tube should be run downwards, so water can flow down into the drain. Don't run it up, was water doesn't flow up.
3 Safety Devices, 3 Safe Nets!
• You can keep your water heater working in tip top shape by making sure these 3 safety devices are ok
• In order for anything to go wrong, all these 3 safety features have to fail at the same time
• Singapore safety policies advice checks on water heaters every 3 years.
Use an experienced installer
Most water heater problems are caused by wrong installation
What i do is read google reviews and go with someone whom many trust
It is the best way to stay safe!
Extra Safe: Digital Water Heaters
Digital water heaters have an additional layer of safety.
They come with a control panel which serves as a ‘brain’ for the heater.
This brain scans the heater for any errors and prompts you for a fix.
If there is an error, the system will prompt a code starting with 'E'.
If the fault affects your safety, the heater will shut down.
