Hello Experts & Fellow DIY'ers,
I recently installed a 50 gal natural gas water heater in my house and everything is up and running. However my concern is that I am not up to code (Michigan), so I want to make the fix prior to any (future) re-sale, and most importantly prevent any potential issues. I have used the proper pipe sealant and checked for leaks.
New Set-up:
My water heater is in a basement utility room. I have 1/2" black pipe that extends straight down about 6ft from the ceiling (with a shut off and drip leg), then a yellow flex gas connector the last 4 inches or so into the unit. My shutoff valve is about halfway (3ft) from the ceiling. (Image Below)
My concern is that the black pipe is no longer tied directly into the water heater because I installed a flex line into the new unit. This allows for a fair amount of movement in the black pipe if it is bumped which is concerning.
Possible Solutions:
1. It was suggested to me to install a metal ceiling flange into the side of the water heater towards the bottom of the black pipe to prevent shifting. I was told there is about 3/4" to 1" of insulation between the metal exterior and the actual water tank. Is this to code and an acceptable practice?
2. Could I run a longer flex line from the shut off valve (w/ drip leg), and therefore only have about 3' of suspended pipe?
I realize a professional would just run black-pipe all the way into the unit but I was curious if there was an easier way that still allowed for a flex connector into the unit. I do like the idea of having a flex connector at the end, just in case something shifts (albeit unlikely) but as mentioned my first concern is safety and meeting code.
Thank you,
I recently installed a 50 gal natural gas water heater in my house and everything is up and running. However my concern is that I am not up to code (Michigan), so I want to make the fix prior to any (future) re-sale, and most importantly prevent any potential issues. I have used the proper pipe sealant and checked for leaks.
New Set-up:
My water heater is in a basement utility room. I have 1/2" black pipe that extends straight down about 6ft from the ceiling (with a shut off and drip leg), then a yellow flex gas connector the last 4 inches or so into the unit. My shutoff valve is about halfway (3ft) from the ceiling. (Image Below)
My concern is that the black pipe is no longer tied directly into the water heater because I installed a flex line into the new unit. This allows for a fair amount of movement in the black pipe if it is bumped which is concerning.
Possible Solutions:
1. It was suggested to me to install a metal ceiling flange into the side of the water heater towards the bottom of the black pipe to prevent shifting. I was told there is about 3/4" to 1" of insulation between the metal exterior and the actual water tank. Is this to code and an acceptable practice?
2. Could I run a longer flex line from the shut off valve (w/ drip leg), and therefore only have about 3' of suspended pipe?
I realize a professional would just run black-pipe all the way into the unit but I was curious if there was an easier way that still allowed for a flex connector into the unit. I do like the idea of having a flex connector at the end, just in case something shifts (albeit unlikely) but as mentioned my first concern is safety and meeting code.
Thank you,