![]() While most water heaters are tucked away in a basement corner, some families don’t have the luxury of an out-of-the-way water heater. ![]() When a Water Heater is Inside a Living Area As such, I highly recommend placing your water heater in the basement, as leaks down there won’t run the risk of major structural damage. If you do sustain a major leak from a water heater on the upper level of your house, you’ll need to make sure the water damage isn’t affecting any of the load-bearing walls in your home.įailure to do this could damage these walls, which can result in a partial or total collapse of your house. Leaking water in a multi-level home will drip through your walls and ceiling, which can cause an outbreak of mold or even harm the structural integrity of your house. If a leak happens and you don’t have a drain pan in place, you could be looking at a lot of costly structural damage. Installation of a drain pan becomes especially important if your water heater is located above your home’s ground floor. When a Water Heater is Above the Ground Floor or Inside an Attic We’ll discuss why drain pans for the water heater are required in these situations in the upcoming sections but know that you might not have a choice in the matter if your locality’s building code mentions water heater pans. ![]() When your water heater is located in an interior living space.Anytime your water heater is located in an attic or ceiling location.Anytime your water heater is located above the ground level.Here are a few of the more common scenarios in which you might be required to use a water heater pan: Where a pan drain was not previously installed, a pan drain shall not be required for a replacement water heater installation. – The pan drain shall extend full size and terminate over a suitably located indirect waste receptor or floor drain or extend to the exterior of the building and terminate not less than 6 inches (152 mm) and not more than 24 inches (610 mm) above the adjacent ground surface. Piping for safety pan drains shall be of those materials listed in Table 605.4.ĥ04.7.2 Pan drain termination. The pan shall be drained by an indirect waste pipe having a diameter of not less than 3/ 4 inch (19 mm). 24 gage), or other pans approved for such use.ĥ04.7.1 Pan size and drain – the pan shall be not less than 1 1/ 2 inches (38 mm) in-depth and shall be of sufficient size and shape to receive all dripping or condensate from the tank or water heater. ![]() When the International Plumbing Code Requires Drain Pansĥ04.7 Required pan – Where a storage tank-type water heater or a hot water storage tank is installed in a location where water leakage from the tank will cause damage, the tank shall be installed in a galvanized steel pan having a material thickness of not less than 0.0236 inch (0.6010 mm) (No. We’ll also talk about the type of water heater pan you should buy, as well as how to ensure your water heater pan has been installed correctly. If you’re unsure of whether you need a drain pan under your water heater or not, this article will help you figure it out. If your water heater is installed in an attic space or inside the interior living space, a drain pan is required under your water heater. Drain pans are not required for water heaters inside garages in most states.Īdditionally, the drain pan needs a drain pipe that drains to the outside or a nearby floor drain. In most cases, whether you need a drain pan under a water heater is mostly determined by the location where it is installed. If it’s time to replace your water heater (or do drain service on the existing water heater), it’s a good idea to install a drain pan under the water heater. One of the recent changes is that drain pans under water heaters are necessary when installing inside. The plumbing codes change every few years. You can take a few steps to mitigate the risk of water damage, one of which is installing a water heater drain pan. However, the water volume it carries can pose a significant risk of water damage when the bottom of the tank leaks. The water heater is an essential part of your home. ![]()
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