Property managers often ask us whether tanks that are already inspected for TSSA still need a maintenance inspection. They do. The two inspections answer different questions, and the gap between them is where tanks get into trouble.
What TSSA requires
In Ontario, larger domestic hot water storage tanks can be regulated pressure vessels under Ontario Regulation 220/01. Regulated vessels need periodic inspection by a TSSA inspector or an insurer's inspector, and for hot water storage tanks that interval is often up to three years. Whether your tanks are regulated depends on their size and operating conditions.
That inspection is about safety. It confirms the vessel is fit to keep operating. It isn't designed to tell you how the tank is aging or what it needs to last.
Why we recommend every two years
Three years is a long time inside a hot water tank. By then the anodes are often completely depleted, and once they're gone the steel starts to corrode. Fittings that have corroded can leak underneath the insulation for a long time before anyone sees water. That hidden fitting leak is the number one cause of tank deterioration we see.
That's why we recommend an internal maintenance inspection every two years. We check the lining, anodes, sediment, fittings and couplings, the manway and gaskets, and the steel itself, and we document it all with photos so you can track the tank over time.
Doing both at once
If your tanks need a TSSA or insurer inspection, we can coordinate with it so the tank only has to be drained and opened once.
Why it matters for your budget
Your large tanks are an asset of the building. Most were set in place before the walls went up, and replacing one is often a six-figure job. A two-year maintenance cycle is inexpensive by comparison, and it's what keeps relining an option instead of replacement. Over the life of the building, maintaining the tanks you have is the cheapest option.
Who to call
Hydrastone performs internal maintenance inspections on large domestic hot water tanks across Canada. Call 416-902-8265 in Toronto, 778-996-8265 in Vancouver or 403-466-8645 in Calgary, or email info@hydrastone.com.
