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Can a gas water heater be enclosed?

Jim Brown

Can a gas water heater be enclosed?

Hot water heaters — both gas and electric — can be enclosed. However, insulation blankets are no longer recommended for hot water heaters. Most defer to manufacturer recommendations when it comes to space allowance for an enclosed water heater.

Is it safe to sleep in a room with a gas water heater?

No. A malfunction of the water heater or flue can allow carbon monoxide to flow into the room and accumulate at a fatal level.

Are water heaters meant to be outside the house or inside?

Electric and gas tank water heaters are not designed to be installed outside without shelter. These water heaters are generally installed inside the garage, storage area, attic, or indoors.

How much ventilation does a gas water heater need?

The amount of air required for a water heater depends on the amount of energy the water heater uses. As a general rule, water heaters need 50 cubic feet of air per 1,000 BTUs/hr.

What should a water heater be placed on?

General Placement. Most regulations are fairly simply, and require that water heaters be placed against an external wall of the house. This is why most hot water heaters are in garages or basements. You will want to place your water heater next to an outer wall to make room for the flue.

Can a hot water heater give off carbon monoxide?

If you have a gas water heater in your home that has been neglected for a long time, improperly installed, or poorly ventilated, it could leak carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by burning fuels, such as gas, during operation. You do not want to mess around with a leak.

How safe are gas water heaters?

If you have a gas water heater and the burner doesn’t shut off, excess gas can build up in your home. A faulty gas water heater also has the potential to release carbon monoxide into the home. This odorless gas is virtually undetectable to humans. It’s also deadly.

Where are gas water heaters not allowed to be installed?

• A gas water heater must not be installed in a room used as a storage closet. This also means that a dedicated water heater closet should not later have stuff stored in it. • Water heaters cannot be installed in a bedroom or bathroom unless in a sealed enclosure (closet) that has combustion provided from outside the living area.

Can a gas water heater be installed in a closet?

Yes, a gas water heater can be installed in a closet as long as the closet is not used for storage. The International Residential Code (IRC) specifically bans a storage closet as a location for a gas water heater.

Is a gas water heater safe in a bedroom?

Now that does not mean that it’s code to have it in a bedroom, but there is no safety issue from consumption of oxygen. The safety issue is on venting of the carbon monoxide (CO) from the hot water heater. In order to make the install safe, ensure that the new gas water heater is properly vented through the ceiling.

Where do you place a gas hot water heater?

If you have a gas heater, you will need to install it in an open space or provide adequate ventilation. Keep all flammable materials away from the heater, and try to place it so that maintenance and routine inspections are easy and all panels are accessible. Water heaters must be placed on a level surface.

Can a gas water heater be enclosed?

Jim Brown

Can a gas water heater be enclosed?

Hot water heaters — both gas and electric — can be enclosed. However, insulation blankets are no longer recommended for hot water heaters. Most defer to manufacturer recommendations when it comes to space allowance for an enclosed water heater.

Does a gas water heater need to be vented through the roof?

A gas water heater must be vented to the outdoors. If cutting through the roof is inconvenient or difficult, probably possible to vent out through a side wall and then up to an adequate height above the roofline.

Can you vent a gas hot water heater with PVC?

As Jason mentioned, plastic (PVC or ABS) is ok to use as a venting material on powervented hot water heaters. They work by sending a huge amount of air in with the flue gases that it decreases the temperature of the exhaust going through the vent enough that it will not comprimise the vent.

How high does a gas water heater have to be off the floor?

18 inches
According to the Uniform Plumbing Code, a natural gas tank water heater should be installed at least 18 inches from the ground.

Can a gas tankless water heater be installed in a closet?

The tankless water heater is small in size. Thus it can be put in small spaces such as under-stair storage areas, closets, in pantries or under the sink.

Why do gas water heaters need to be properly vented?

All natural gas water heaters must be vented to the outdoors to remove the byproducts of combustion. Since flue gases from the water heater are warmer than the surrounding air, they will rise naturally through a vertical vent pipe or chimney to the outdoors.

Can a gas water heater be vented through a wall?

All solid, liquid or gas fueled water heater, whether they are tank type or tankless must vent through the roof unless they are direct vent. The only other option is an electric water heater which requires no vent. There are plenty of heaters that are designed for sidewall venting including powervent models, some that vent through PVC pipe.

Where does the vent go on a water heater?

The vents go directly through an outside wall, and can also bring in combustion air to the gas burner. Most of these units require zero-clearance at the sides and rear, which allows them to be installed in a small area. Beside this, can furnace and water heater share PVC vent?

Can you vent water heater and furnace at the same time?

Both heating water at the same time. Likely hood is they will, regardless of how the two tanks are connected, in series or parallel. One may also ask, can you vent water heater through wall? All natural gas water heaters must be vented to the outdoors to remove the byproducts of combustion.

Where does the gas come from in a hot water heater?

With a direct-vent system, air for combustion is drawn from a vent pipe that runs through an exterior wall or the roof. Exhaust gasses are vented outdoors through a separate vent duct or through a separate chamber of the same pipe (this requires a double-wall vent duct).