NJ WATER HEATERS

Protective devices are necessary because water heaters can be dangerous appliances. The fact that pressurized, often scalding hot water is being contained in a tank allows the water heater to have potentially explosive force. Some pressure devices include the pressure relief valve and anode. The pressure relief valve is an opening on the side of the tank that is set to open at a certain pressure. Before a malfunctioning water heater can over pressurize the tank and cause an explosion, the relief valve will open and drain the tank. The anode is another important protection device exclusive to electric water heaters. By manipulating electrical properties, anodes can lengthen the life of the steel tank by diverting rust to the anode itself. However, as the anode rusts it will disintegrate - therefore it is called "sacrificial."