Water heater placement question.

[overdriv]

I saw on this forum somewhere that someone had put their water heater what looked like several feet above all the rest of their plumbing for their slab radiant heat.

What considerations need to be given in doing that? I will have a storage area above the room that has all my plumbing and was thinking about putting mine up there. It would be about 8' to the bottom of the water heater.

 

[kb2tha]

You might consider a tray under the heater with a pipe to drain off any water that accumulates when the heater eventually goes bad. I did this on a second floor heater at my camp and then piped the overflow through the exterior wall. Could also pipe the blowoff valve to the outside. HD and Lowes among others sell the aluminum trays.
Ken

 

[59 wagon man]

keep in mind how will it be replaced when it goes bad. it will definately be heavier and maybe leaking water making things slippery

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I saw on this forum somewhere that someone had put their water heater what looked like several feet above all the rest of their plumbing for their slab radiant heat.

What considerations need to be given in doing that? I will have a storage area above the room that has all my plumbing and was thinking about putting mine up there. It would be about 8' to the bottom of the water heater.

If it was a gas fired water heater, it was probably raised as required by code to protect against a fire hazard that can occur when fuel or other flamable liquids get spilled onto the floor adjacent to the unit. The idea being, if the fuel puddle would get adjacent to the pilot light a fire would result. If the water heater is off the floor...this is less likely to occur.

My wall mounted boiler has sealed combustion, no pilot light, draws in all of the combustion air from the outside AND is about 40-inches off the floor. Best of all worlds.

Phil

 

[Cast Iron Nuts]

More for collection of explosive fumes at low levels than spills. If your working with in 15 feet of an open flame with a combustible liquid make sure your life and building insurance is current.


CIN

 

[overdriv]

Originally the plan is to put the water heater in the same small room as all my radiant heat plumbing. This same room will double as a rest room with stool and sink, etc.

I understand all the safety precautions involved with a gas water heater and appreciate the comments and reminders.

I was mainly curious about il effects it might have on the circulation of the water through the system??

 

[59 wagon man]

if it is gas why not think about a wall hung tankless external mount water heater

 

[overdriv]

Mainly because I already have a new water heater for this. Also, I'm not sure I've got enough gas supply for a tankless.

if it is gas why not think about a wall hung tankless external mount water heater

 

[cowchaser]

I just had mine replaced and by code. The heater is in a indoor closet so it could be set on the floor, but had to have a drain to the sewer system, it's regualr vent and another combustible that is not attached to the heater, basically just a vent pipe inside the closet going through the roof.

If in the garage it had to be raised 18 inches off the ground level with a drain line and it's normal vent. Reason for that is people tend to place things around them and code doesn't want that so they want it raised off the ground. This is what the plumber told me anyway. Can't remember what code book he was using.

I also had to buy a city permit and code enforcement had to come inspect it and place a sticker on it that it had been done. I don't know if you need any of that where you are.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Placement of the water heater vertically should not effect the ability to pump water at all.

Phil