Brandon Belew
New Member
Hello,
I've taken on a DIY task of installing a 9.5GPM tankless water heater to replace a 50 gallon electric tank I have currently. This is being installed in a closet under a staircase, so space is limited.
I had a NG heater installed last year and when the plumbers were here I had them put 3/4" stubbed up to where I eventually planned on installing a tankless. So that part should be straightforward, I just need to stub the pipe through the wall and put my shut off and trap in.
The issue i'm running into which I might just be overthinking is mainly venting. This is a direct vent using 3" PVC condensing Rheem unit. The wall i'm mounting it on is an exterior wall, so I had planned on just coming straight out the wall with minimal piping. But reading the instructions it looks like it calls for building a condensate trap on the intake, but none of those are examples are 1' or less piping. So my question is, can I get away with not doing the condensate trap on such a small run? If not i'll have to run the pipe a couple feet over and then go out.
The other question I have is mounting -- we have 18" on center studs, and one stud lines up perfect with the center mounting holes on the unit. but the outer edges are all hollow wall, but it appears to be a decently thick sheet of sheetrock. Could I get away with using the middle stud, and putting snap toggle hollow wall anchors on the outside edges? If I were to mount a piece of plywood to the wall over the sheetrock between the two studs and connect the tankless to it. It would bring the tankless out a little too far in the space I have. I'm trying to install it alongside my existing tank so I can take my time, do it right, and not lose the little hot water I still have until the new one is plumbed and ready to go. With that extra space taken up I wouldn't be able to remove the water tank when done.
Any suggestions?
Attaching a picture of where i'm adding it and space i'm working with.
Thanks!
I've taken on a DIY task of installing a 9.5GPM tankless water heater to replace a 50 gallon electric tank I have currently. This is being installed in a closet under a staircase, so space is limited.
I had a NG heater installed last year and when the plumbers were here I had them put 3/4" stubbed up to where I eventually planned on installing a tankless. So that part should be straightforward, I just need to stub the pipe through the wall and put my shut off and trap in.
The issue i'm running into which I might just be overthinking is mainly venting. This is a direct vent using 3" PVC condensing Rheem unit. The wall i'm mounting it on is an exterior wall, so I had planned on just coming straight out the wall with minimal piping. But reading the instructions it looks like it calls for building a condensate trap on the intake, but none of those are examples are 1' or less piping. So my question is, can I get away with not doing the condensate trap on such a small run? If not i'll have to run the pipe a couple feet over and then go out.
The other question I have is mounting -- we have 18" on center studs, and one stud lines up perfect with the center mounting holes on the unit. but the outer edges are all hollow wall, but it appears to be a decently thick sheet of sheetrock. Could I get away with using the middle stud, and putting snap toggle hollow wall anchors on the outside edges? If I were to mount a piece of plywood to the wall over the sheetrock between the two studs and connect the tankless to it. It would bring the tankless out a little too far in the space I have. I'm trying to install it alongside my existing tank so I can take my time, do it right, and not lose the little hot water I still have until the new one is plumbed and ready to go. With that extra space taken up I wouldn't be able to remove the water tank when done.
Any suggestions?
Attaching a picture of where i'm adding it and space i'm working with.
Thanks!