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Hot water heater

REempire | Posted in General Discussion on December 19, 2009 06:08am

Can anyone tell me if all models of hot water heaters have to be installed on a stand if they are in a garage in order to meet code? Someone is telling me that car fumes can ignite the gas if not on a stand. Thanks.

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  1. Stuart | Dec 19, 2009 06:12pm | #1

    It may vary depending on local codes, but in general, yes - a gas water heater (not a hot water heater) needs to be on a stand at least 18 inches tall to meet code. It may not be likely, but there's a chance of flammable gas fumes down at floor level.

    1. DanH | Dec 19, 2009 06:50pm | #2

      This may also vary based on the rating of the unit. Some newer units are supposedly "safe" from the standpoint of igniting gas fumes.

  2. pm22 | Dec 19, 2009 07:12pm | #3

    If the water is already hot, you don't need to heat it. Hence, this forum is strickly against "hot water heaters". They are absolutely forbidden.

    ~Peter

    1. User avater
      BossHog | Dec 19, 2009 08:11pm | #5

      ...this forum is strickly against "hot water heaters".

      Not the whole forum. I think either way is fine.

    2. Shacko | Dec 20, 2009 01:06pm | #7

      >>>If the water is already hot, you don't need to heat it<<<

      How about a booster heater? ;)

    3. barmil | Dec 22, 2009 04:44pm | #9

      You need to lighten up on the (very stale) critique of the term "hot water heater." If you've never said "join together," "free gift," "former veteran," "fuse together," "hollow tube," "PIN number," "most unique," or "true facts," then maybe you have a vantage to be critical. "At this point in time," I suggest that you don't.

  3. rdesigns | Dec 19, 2009 07:32pm | #4

    All gas water heaters now sold in this country are built with the FVIR (flammable vapor ingnition resistant) feature. This means that they qualify for the exception in the gas codes that exempts certain appliances from being elevated on a platform. They can sit right on the garage floor.

    Electric water heaters have their lower t'stat located such that it (the t'stat) must be elevated by the 18" that you referred to.

    1. rich1 | Dec 19, 2009 10:35pm | #6

      rdesigns; just curious, could the AHJ make an arguement that the ignitor is a possible source of ignition? Are FVIR specifically exempted? Generally not an issue up here as the danger of freezing is too great.

  4. rdesigns | Dec 21, 2009 10:06am | #8

    The AHJ can, of course, require anything it wants, reasonable or not.

    But, the FVIR feature meets the requirement in both the fuel gas codes and the plumbing codes that allows for water heaters so equipped to be installed directly on garage floors.

    That's why the price of gas water heaters took such a big jump a few years ago, when all man'frs were required by law to build gas water heaters with the FVIR feature.

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