|
•
Newsroom
•
About DOH
•
Organization Chart
• DOH Web (A-Z)
•
Alternative File Format Information
Bioterrorism
Information:
•
General Information
•
Local
Health Agencies and Healthcare Providers
|
|
This fact sheet is
available in:
|
 PDF files require a free reader. Download
a reader. This document was produced in cooperation with the Emergency
Management Division of the Washington State Military Department.
Securing Your Water Heater
Fresh water after a disaster may be as close as your water heater —
provided, of course, it remains standing upright. You can protect this
valuable resource by securing your water heater to the wall studs.
First check for plumber's tape
Experts modified the procedure for strapping
water heaters following the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge
earthquakes. Prior to this, a single strap of plumbers’ tape was commonly
used. Because so many tanks burst through this strapping, experts now
recommend:
-
Secure both the top and the bottom, rather than
just the top or just the middle, of the tank.
-
Use heavy-gauge metal strapping rather than
plumbers’ tape.
-
Replace all copper and metal piping with
flexible natural gas and water line connectors.
Second, secure tank with heavy-gauge metal straps, top and bottom
Commercially available strapping kits make
this a relatively easy process. These can be found in many hardware
stores on the aisle displaying the water heaters. These kits come
complete with the strapping, lag screws, washers, spacers and tension
bolts.
You can also choose to assemble the strapping
materials yourself using heavy-gage metal straps and 3-inch lag screws.
To prevent the tank from tipping backwards, there
should be very little space between it and the wall. If there is more than
1 or 2 inches, attach a wooden block to the wall with long lag screws.
Wrap the heavy-gauge metal strapping 1-1/2 times
around the tank. Start by placing the strapping at the back of the tank.
Bring it to the front and then take it back to the wall.
Secure this strapping to the wall studs or the
wood block using several 1/4-inch x 3-inch or longer lag screws with
oversized washers.
If you are securing it directly into concrete,
use 1/4-inch expansion bolts in place of the screws.
An emergency source of water
Water can easily be accessed by connecting a
garden hose to the drain spout, and by opening a faucet somewhere in
the house.
Make sure the electricity or natural gas is off
before opening the drain.
DOH Pub 821-032
Revised - March 2008
|
