Is a WH supposed to be raised off the floor?

[Walkman]

Is there a requirement/advantage to raising it off the floor?

I'm asking because my old water heater had 2" legs underneath it. It looks like the new ones are flat on the bottom.

 

[Jadnashua]

It's not a bad idea to install a WH in a drain pan, but no, with the new federal requirements, WH generally do not have to be raised up. If the floor typically got wet, you might want to raise it for that reason. Note, some locales require it in places like garages, but the new federal requirements make the new designs safe from gasoline vapors, so the added height does not add safety in that front, but still does from possibly being hit by a car in the garage.

Check with your local inspector and follow the installation requirements. If the two don't agree, do what the inspector says after showing him the instructions - he may relent, and he may not.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Ian Gills]

It varies but generally in a garage it must be 18" off the floor.

In my basement, my WH is flat on the floor. They no longer come with the short legs you mention because they were easily damaged and made moving/removing the WH more difficult.

It was easier moving the new one in than taking the old one out wasn't it?

 

[Mikey]

I think the regs vary depending on whether it's an electric or gas-powered WH. In any event, raising it off the floor makes attaching the hose to the drain a lot easier.

 

[hj]

heaters

IF it can be impacted by an automobile, it MUST be 18" above the floor regardless of gas or electric. Otherwise it depends on whether the city has adopted the latest gas code to allow the FVIR heaters to be on the floor. The reason for legs was that the old heaters drew their combustion air from underneath the heaters. The new ones draw it in from the sides.

 

[Mikey]

IF it can be impacted by an automobile, it MUST be 18" above the floor regardless of gas or electric.

Any idea why this is? Coincidentally (perhaps) the federal rule for bumper height (passenger cars only) is 16"-20".

I've seen other "expert" sites that claim there must be physical protection for a WH from impact by automobile, and that anything installed in a garage which could generate a spark to ignite gasoline fumes must be 18" above the floor -- including washers and dryers. They mention "national mechanical code" -- can anybody quote chapter & verse?

 

[hj]

heater

Of course. It is to raise the heater high enough so that a car cannot run into it. The alternative is to install bolster pipes in front of the heater to protect it.

 

[Jimbo]

I have seen a ton of washer dryers in the garage...that is how they did it here in the 60's through the mid 80's. Never saw even one raised up off the garage floor. When you think about it , that would seem to be a loophole in the code!

 

[FloridaOrange]

Water heaters down here are typically installed on the floor in the garage, without bollards. Gas water heaters must be 18" off of the floor.

 

[Squ1rrel]

It may be for combustion reasons...every garage I've ever seen has oil stains on the floor.

 

[Gear Junkie]

We put them on stands here because the gas vapors sink and a spark from a gas W/H could set it off. We do put bollards in front of the stand since a stand won't stop a car.

 

[hj]

heaer

The FVIR burners stop the ignition of gas fumes, so they can be on the floor if your locale has adopted the latest gas code.