Water Heater Damage

[CatugalCat]

What is the name of your state? Hawaii
The water heater in our leased house has started to expel water through the temperature and pressure drain pipe. We have lived here for 2 years and this is the first time it has done this. The water heater is located in the garage. All of my Husband's personal items got damaged because of this. I did some research and found out that the drain pipe is supposed to be directed to a drain. This one is not, it just comes down the side of the heater, pointed directly at the floor, so if it were to expel water as it is doing, the water would be left standing on the garage floor. Are we entitled to any compensation for Hubby's damaged items? We do not have renters insurance.

 

[dequeendistress]

How long did it take for repairs after you reported it to the landlord?

Was the pop off leaking?

 

[CatugalCat]

Hawaii

No repairs have been made to date, I reported it the day after it happened. I have since had to jimmy-rig a drain system, where I used a funnel and a hose to make the water drain outside the garage. I'm not sure if they are not fixing it because our lease is up and we have to be out by Sat. 8/28. The incident happened last week.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? Hawaii
The water heater in our leased house has started to expel water through the temperature and pressure drain pipe. We have lived here for 2 years and this is the first time it has done this. The water heater is located in the garage. All of my Husband's personal items got damaged because of this. I did some research and found out that the drain pipe is supposed to be directed to a drain. This one is not, it just comes down the side of the heater, pointed directly at the floor, so if it were to expel water as it is doing, the water would be left standing on the garage floor. Are we entitled to any compensation for Hubby's damaged items? We do not have renters insurance.

**A: what island do you live on and how old is the house? The plumbing code (UPC) does not require an overflow pipe of a water heater TPR valve to terminate to a drain. Also, you are not entitled to compensation.

 

[CatugalCat]

Hawaii

We live on Maui, and the house is about 11 yrs. old

 

[dequeendistress]

The most common problems found with water heaters is a missing or inadequate temperature and pressure relief valve and a missing or improperly installed tpr valve discharge pipe. The water heater inspection includes visual inspection of:
Venting; must be in good condition, properly connected, with an adequate drafthood
Temperature and pressure relief valve; must be properly installed and in good condition, with a properly attached discharge pipe. State and local building codes vary and may require that the pipe extend to somewhere between 6" to18" of floor. Some codes require that they must be metal while some others allow PVC.
Gas shut-off valve and gas line; must be properly connected in good condition; valve must not be broken
Cold water shut-off valve
No leaks
Proper clearance to combustibles
Note: Many jurisdictions require a permit for replacement of water heater.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Though many potential electrical problems are hidden, the inspector looks for obvious conditions that can lead to electric shock or fire ignition. Potential problems include:
Bare, abused, obsolete or worn wiring; splices or fixtures installed without a junction box
Missing outlet or switch covers; missing cover plate on fuse box; missing covers on junction boxes
Oversized fuses; signs of overloading
Loose or damaged fixtures, switches, or outlets
Overhead service lines too low to ground/deck/porch, etc. (Min. 10' above; Pre-1963 a min. of 8' above. Check your local code.)
Improperly wired fixtures, switches, or outlets
GFI outlets installed in any location near running water.
Unusual installations and other hazards
Use of extension cords in place of permanent wiring (garage door openers, sump-pumps, etc.)
Incandescent lightbulbs lacking 12" clearance to combustibles

 

[HomeGuru]

Hawaii

We live on Maui, and the house is about 11 yrs. old

**A: then Maui County adopted the UPC. What's up with a water heater anyway? I thought you people in Hawaii live in grass houses with no indoor plumbing or electricity?

 

[dhavenh]

Inspection Codes (upc)

**A: what island do you live on and how old is the house? The plumbing code (UPC) does not require an overflow pipe of a water heater TPR valve to terminate to a drain. Also, you are not entitled to compensation.

BOSTON MASS.

In my opinion because a landlord meets all the building codes, it still doesn’t relieve them from being negligent in some cases. I would like your thoughts on this.

BHA (Boston Housing Athority) Defense Will Be: That because Ray and myself live on the first floor, they don’t have to install water containment and drainage under the hot water tanks, they only have to install them on the second floor and up.
Therefor theY meet the inspection codes.

I have a couple of problems with their defense:

1. If this is their minimal requirement for inspections, it still doesn’t relieve them from being negligent, especially since there is a warning tag on each and every one of the hot water tanks, warning not to install these tanks in areas where there is a possibility of damage to property or the surrounding area without installing a containment system.

TAG ON EVERY TANK!

WARNING WATER LEAKAGE
Regardless of the material from which a water heater is constructed,
it will at some time leak, due to corrosive action of water. This water
heater must not be located in an area where leakage will result in the
damage to adjacent areas or lower floors. When such areas can not
be avoided, It is recommended that a suitable catch pan
adequately drained be installed under the water heater.

Adjacent areas has nothing to do with which floor you live on. BHA is negligent here.

2. BHA is fully aware of the problems with the water tanks. In the week that the tank in my apartment erupted, two other tanks erupted in other apartments.
Should not BHA have warned people before moving them into these apartments of the possibility of flooding? Full disclosure!
These hot water tanks are located inside the closet where your clothing and other valuables are located. A flaw in construction design maybe!

 

[HomeGuru]

BOSTON MASS.

In my opinion because a landlord meets all the building codes, it still doesn’t relieve them from being negligent in some cases. I would like your thoughts on this.

BHA (Boston Housing Athority) Defense Will Be: That because Ray and myself live on the first floor, they don’t have to install water containment and drainage under the hot water tanks, they only have to install them on the second floor and up.
Therefor theY meet the inspection codes.

I have a couple of problems with their defense:

1. If this is their minimal requirement for inspections, it still doesn’t relieve them from being negligent, especially since there is a warning tag on each and every one of the hot water tanks, warning not to install these tanks in areas where there is a possibility of damage to property or the surrounding area without installing a containment system.

TAG ON EVERY TANK!

WARNING WATER LEAKAGE
Regardless of the material from which a water heater is constructed,
it will at some time leak, due to corrosive action of water. This water
heater must not be located in an area where leakage will result in the
damage to adjacent areas or lower floors. When such areas can not
be avoided, It is recommended that a suitable catch pan
adequately drained be installed under the water heater.

Adjacent areas has nothing to do with which floor you live on. BHA is negligent here.

2. BHA is fully aware of the problems with the water tanks. In the week that the tank in my apartment erupted, two other tanks erupted in other apartments.
Should not BHA have warned people before moving them into these apartments of the possibility of flooding? Full disclosure!
These hot water tanks are located inside the closet where your clothing and other valuables are located. A flaw in construction design maybe!

**A: you hijacked some else's thread from Hawaii. Post your own thread.

 

[dhavenh]

Sorry!

i'M A LITTLE NEW AT THIS. I WAS HOPING YOUR INSIGHT COULD HELP ME AND THE OTHER PERSON!
PEACE!

 

[dequeendistress]

We can address your question in your own thread.

Please post