Domestic Tank Hot Water Heater Trouble

[Bird]

We bought this house in 2005, it was built in 1991, and the water heater was apparently 24 years old when I had it replaced in April, 2015. It's a total electric house and the water heater is in a closet in the middle of the house. Having had some experience with leaking water heaters in the past, I had it replaced even though there was not a problem (yet) with the old one. The plumber who replaced it was familiar with our city ordinance about a building permit, inspection, etc., as I was, but I was not aware of something called a Floodstop and I didn't see it mentioned in this thread.
FloodStop System for Water Heaters - Compression Fit - - Amazon.com

So it wasn't cheap paying someone else to replace it and install the Floodstop system, but I'm sure if I ever have a leak and the Floodstop works, I'll figure it was worth it.

 

[kenmac]

I have seen them at trade shows , classes etc,. But I have never installed one. I have always installed water heaters in a pan if they were in a location where a failure could cause damage

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Not as good as the FloodStop, since it does not turn the water off. But knowing you have a leak early vs not knowing until it is causing damage. I have used these units around the water heater, under the dishwasher, the washing machine, the condensation pump by the AC. Worked in loss prevention for an insurance company for many years and saw first hand what water can do.

Glentronics, Inc. BWD-HWA Basement Watchdog Water Sensor and Alarm - Household Alarms And Detectors - Amazon.com

 

[Bird]

I have seen them at trade shows , classes etc,. But I have never installed one. I have always installed water heaters in a pan if they were in a location where a failure could cause damage

The water is in a pan, but the pan would fill up and run over if it weren't for the sensor in the pan that will supposedly shut off the incoming water to the tank if that sensor gets wet.

 

[JamesHW]

The electric water heater in our 1880's farmhouse is at least 70 years old. Used only for a month or two a year and otherwise drained during the winter (except for a couple of years we had renters) it just keeps plugging along. I've always planned to get it replaced with a NG (gas was run along the road in the 70's) hot water heater, but venting was always a problem. Now that they have the ones that vent underground will likely go that route

 

[ultrarunner]

The water is in a pan, but the pan would fill up and run over if it weren't for the sensor in the pan that will supposedly shut off the incoming water to the tank if that sensor gets wet.

All of my pans are piped to daylight with a 1" copper line and gravity...

So far they have worked well but all my water heater failures started as a pinhole leak with the water pooling in the pan and then out the drain line.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

The water is in a pan, but the pan would fill up and run over if it weren't for the sensor in the pan that will supposedly shut off the incoming water to the tank if that sensor gets wet.

A pan is a nice symbolic gesture.

Useless against an actual leak, but it looks nice.

The electric water heater in our 1880's farmhouse is at least 70 years old. Used only for a month or two a year and otherwise drained during the winter (except for a couple of years we had renters) it just keeps plugging along. I've always planned to get it replaced with a NG (gas was run along the road in the 70's) hot water heater, but venting was always a problem. Now that they have the ones that vent underground will likely go that route

You'll find they don't make them like they used to. If you can buy one today that will go 25 years, I would be surprised.

 

[kenmac]

The water is in a pan, but the pan would fill up and run over if it weren't for the sensor in the pan that will supposedly shut off the incoming water to the tank if that sensor gets wet.

your pan must not have a drain. International plumbing code reqires a min. 1'' drain for the pan. If your pan doesn't have a drain this would be the way to go. But electrical devices also fail when power is off or other reasons. They are mechanical, and mechanical things can and do malfunction

 

[kenmac]

Not as good as the FloodStop, since it does not turn the water off. But knowing you have a leak early vs not knowing until it is causing damage. I have used these units around the water heater, under the dishwasher, the washing machine, the condensation pump by the AC. Worked in loss prevention for an insurance company for many years and saw first hand what water can do.

Glentronics, Inc. BWD-HWA Basement Watchdog Water Sensor and Alarm - Household Alarms And Detectors - Amazon.com

I would not say it's better than a pan with a drain. This device is electrical/ mechanical, If you lose power and you have a leak. how would the device function ? Mechanical malfunction ? No mechanical device is fool proof.
As a plumbing / HVAC contractor for more than 30 years, I have seen many malfunctions in water heater's,etc,. If I were to use this device, I would still use a back up drain.

Dishwasher are a different story. Hard to install a dishwasher in a pan.Code doesn't require anything for a dishwasher.

I have installed pans with a drain for washing machines.

For A/C condensate drains, there is an electrical cut off switch, or drain pipe for the pan, in case of a water leak

 

[kenmac]

A pan is a nice symbolic gesture.

Useless against an actual leak, but it looks nice.

If one were to install the pan per international plumbing code. The pan would have a drain. International plumbing code requires a min. 1'' pan drain. I use to install a min 1'1/4 drain. If I had the room, I installed a 2'' drain. while it won't shut off the water. It will prevent damage. The shut off device is mechanical. mechanical things can and do fail all the time. If they didn't , we wouldn't need these other back up safety devices !