O.K. So I’m going to install a new water heater. The old one is 12 years old and is a poorly installed unit.
A couple of questions.
The old unit has a pan under it in case it springs a leak. I can’t remember ever having a big problem with water heaters leaking. This one is inside a utility room inside an improved basement that might be rented out one day.
Do I need a pan? It’s in the basement with carpet. The existing pan is a nut job nightmare DIY job. If I put a pan under the new unit I will need to change a lot of stuff.
In order to change things out AND do it right with a pan is a lot of work. Right now there is a brick dam with a 1 1/2″ abs pipe sticking through the wall into what looks like a floor drain. see pics
I would like to demo the brick pan and not have one.
The vent for the water heater as it sits jogs over 4 feet at about 1 inch per foot of rise. Is this a sufficient rate of rise per foot?
I want to do this right and am just asking.
Replies
A pan under the water heater is merely a good practice, not a necessity. I have a plastic pan under mine, but more to protect the bottom of the unit from corrosion. IF there is a leak, 1) it will develope very slowly and be noticieable over time or 2) it will be catastrophic and the pan will overflow if not well drained.
As far as the venting goes, for a gravity vent more information is necessary. It is good practice to pitch it, but the total height must be taken into acount to determine the acceptable horizontal run. For an induced draft (i.e. power vented) you still want a positive pitch, but it is less critical as you have a fan to force the vent flow.
.. all water heaters will eventually leak, it's only a matter of time. They all begin with slow leaks that go unnoticed and can do allot of damage. If the rental is in the future then you must have a clear route from the heater to the floor drain, or a drained pan. You will be responsible for damage to the tenants property. There ain't nothing wrong with the brick and concrete curb you have, that's how they were all built once upon a time, that ain't necessarily a DIY, but someone cared enough to do it right. If your concerned about rust on the tanks outer shell, then set it on 3 hockey pucks ..
Edited 1/8/2009 8:48 am ET by wane
Pop,
Code in Plano, TX is a pan and drain outlet to somewhere.
Also requires heater to set I think 18" off the floor in a garage area heater.
If you have to pull a permit, you'll find out what's required.
Pete