Q. I

was shopping for a new gas water heater and looked closely at the labeling.

I never realized that the pilot light and actual burner flames could ignite

vapors from flammable liquids. I have friends who store gasoline and other

flammable liquids in their garage, which also happens to be where their

water heater is located. Why hasn't their house gone up in smoke? Is the

danger real or imagined? Are gas water heaters safe? Should I buy an electric

heater? S.F., Lansing, Mich.

A. Interestingly

enough, the major manufacturers of gas water heaters decided to be very

proactive with respect to the flammable vapor issue. With the approval

and cooperation of the Consumer Products Safety Commission, these major

water heater manufacturers began to together study the issue. They shared

research and patents while they individually developed separate new gas

water heater products that stop the ignition of flammable vapors outside

of the water heater. This was a voluntary effort on the part of the manufacturers.

All new 30-,

40- and 50-gallon gas water heaters that use a traditional atmospheric

vent must meet a new standard. This standard was written by the American

National Standards Institute, and it basically states that any heater

meeting the above description made after this date must be designed so

that vapors created by spilled gasoline near the heater will not ignite

outside of the water heater. Thirty-, 40- and 50-gallon power vent water

heaters must meet this standard on July 1, 2004. All other residential

models must meet this same ANSI standard on or before July 1, 2005.

These new heaters

are very interesting as they all employ a special one-way technology that

allows regular combustion air as well as flammable vapors to enter the

combustion chamber of the water heater. But if flammable vapors enter

the sealed combustion chamber and ignite, the fire can't go backwards

and ignite the rest of the vapors just outside of the heater. More importantly,

the heaters have built-in sensors that detect the burning vapors. The

designs of the heaters are such that the supply of gas to the heater and

pilot light is shut down.

Perhaps the

biggest problems that all of the new water heaters face are lint, dust

and oil. In the past, many people were not concerned with dusty and lint-covered

appliances in a basement or garage. But the new heaters built with this

advanced safety technology will work best when you keep them free of as

much lint and dust as possible. As you begin to see these new water heaters

in the marketplace, note that some will have filters and others will not.

If there happens

to be airborne dust and lint in your environment, be aware that this particulate

matter can and will find its way into the water heaters unless you stop

it in some manner. You may choose to maintain a cleaner environment to

stop problems before they begin. You may choose to use a water heater

that sports an external filter that is easy to clean. Or you may choose

a heater that claims to never need cleaning, although the dust and lint

most certainly is accumulating somewhere within the heater. My advice

is to do your best to eliminate lint and dust in the vicinity of the water

heater and buy a water heater that fits your lifestyle.

If you want

to really protect yourself, your loved ones and your possessions, I think

the best advice is to schedule a fire prevention meeting at your home

with your local fire department. Ask the visiting official about flammable

liquids and the absolute safest way to store them. Be aware that these

include gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, etc. I am quite certain the

fire official will tell you how to safely store them.

Finally, do

not be lulled into a sense of security with these new, safer water heaters.

When you buy one, do not think for a moment you can now store or work

with flammable liquids and be immune to danger. Gas water heaters are

vapors.

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