What are the Components of Your Gas Water Heater?
One household appliance that gets almost non-stop use is the gas water heater, but how it functions is a mystery to many homeowners. Learning more about your water heater’s components can give you greater insight into how it works:
- Water tank — Usually constructed of metal with a protective inner lining, tanks typically hold between 40 and 60 gallons of hot water. Most have a sacrificial anode rod suspended inside to draw corrosion and protect the metal. On the outside, the metal is covered with a layer of insulation and a rigid outer shell.
- Cold water supply line — This pipe brings cold water in through the top of the tank. A shutoff valve on the exterior can halt the incoming flow whenever necessary.
- Dip tube — This hollow tube runs from the supply line down into the tank to deliver cold water to the bottom for heating.
- Hot water discharge — Suspended down into the tank, this pipe carries heated water out into the home’s hot water pipes.
- Burner — Situated at the bottom of the tank, the burner is controlled by a module on the exterior that regulates both the water temperature and pilot light. The burner is fed by a gas line that’s equipped with a shutoff valve on the tank’s exterior.
- Exhaust flue — Running from the burner up through the top of the tank and venting outdoors, the flue safely removes exhaust fumes than can contain hazards like carbon monoxide
- Drain valve — A gas water heater has an exterior drain valve located near the tank bottom so the appliance can be emptied and flushed to remove sediment.
- Temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve — This safety device is attached to an overflow pipe that runs down the outside of the tank. If the temperature or pressure inside gets dangerously high, the valve opens automatically to relieve it.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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