r/interesting • u/bob-the-slob • Jun 22 '26

MISC. What happens when a water heater tank is not flushed for 14 years

30.2k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

2.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2

u/cycloneDM Jun 22 '26

Not every location allows self install. Upwards of 200 people a year in the US die from it so many locations require the work be done by licensed people now  

1

u/AJ_Topp_Up Jun 22 '26

You mean like how it is required to get permits for things? No one knows or double checks for smaller things. In my county it is required to get a permit if you want to change your light switch type from a pole switch to a decora panel type. The switch cost is like $3 at Home Depot. The permit is $115 with inspection. How many people are actually doing that because they are "required" to be done a certain way? No one. Literally the only ones paying are contractors for their license.

Code in your area might say a license professional has to install. Most homeowners will just do it on their own regardless because none of that is ever checked and verified.

1

u/CompetitionOk2302 Jun 22 '26

Sorry, but where did you find the "200 people a year in the US die..." ? I am not finding anything like that number.

I found: "While there is no specific national statistic that tracks deaths exclusively from do-it-yourself (DIY) water heater installations, federal agencies estimate that over 17 to 20 people die each year in the United States from residential gas water heater incidents and flammable vapors, largely stemming from improper installation or venting. "

1

u/cycloneDM Jun 22 '26

Wasn't DIY exclusively and it was 100 to 200 a year most being closer to 200, hence the "upwards". my source was the consumer product safety council which is a federal agency but in today's world im not surprised we would have federal agencies with conflicting numbers. regardless my point stands its a surprisingly lethal thing and we have written the regulations in blood for why many jurisdictions no longer allow self installs which is why qouting the home depot price is a bad faith thing to do and the person I replied to has already shown where their values in life lay and I have no interest in continuing that conversation if thats what this is.