Is it OK to enclose a water heater?

Is it OK to enclose a water heater?

In most instances, a home’s water heater is placed in the basement. When the basement is finished so it can be used for another purpose, leaving the water heater in plain view can detract from the appearance of the room. You can enclose the water heater by building a wall around it and constructing a utility closet.

Can you wall in a hot water heater?

General Placement. Most regulations are fairly simply, and require that water heaters be placed against an external wall of the house. This is why most hot water heaters are in garages or basements. You will want to place your water heater next to an outer wall to make room for the flue.

How do you hide an exposed water heater?

Ideas for Hiding a Hot Water Heater

1. Add a Closet. If you have the space, you can hire a contractor to install drywall and a door.
2. Create a Hot Water Cover or Cabinet. Creating a cabinet is a great option if you want something less permanent than a closet.
3. Hang Curtains.
4. Use a Room Divider or Screen.

Can I enclose my water heater and furnace?

Enclosing won’t be a problem, just take into account space to access the units for service and maintenance. A water heater doesn’t need much more than its own footprint, since its connections are on the front and top, though allowing at least 6″ around it will certainly ease any future work necessary.

How much clearance do you need around a water heater?

Air Circulation. Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance, or air space, to function properly and safely. A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater. A certain amount of airflow is also required for proper combustion and ventilation.

Do hot water heaters need ventilation?

Water heaters need a ventilation system except for an electronic one. Solar or electronic powered water heater runs without ventilation. Installing a water heater outdoor may not need a venting system. The venting system varies based on water heaters type.

Do water heater blankets work?

Water heater insulation could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs—and should pay for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $20. Most experts agree that heat loss in a gas water heater goes up the flue.

Can you build a cabinet around a tankless water heater?

Tankless water heaters can be installed anywhere inside your home. You can even have a tankless water heater in a bathroom! Some families with larger homes choose to install two, one for each floor, for example. Because of their small size, they fit in closets, cabinets, pantries or laundry rooms.

Does water heater closet need to be vented?

When a residential, gas fired water heater is installed in a closet, the heater combustion gases must be vented to the outside of the residence and the fresh air needed for combustion must be drawn in from outside the home using double wall metal pipe; single wall pipe is not permitted.

Can you vent water heater through wall?

Direct vent or horizontally vented water heaters are designed for installation where vertical chimneys or flues are not available or would be more expensive to install. The vents go directly through an outside wall, and can also bring in combustion air to the gas burner.

Can you vent a water heater with PVC?

A standard will be needed for plastic flue pipes that should include a temperature gauge and a high limit probe. Then PVC, CPVC and polypropylene flue gas piping can be safely used on high efficiency boilers and water heaters. This would be an answer to the dilemma of cost versus safety.

How do you wrap a water heater?

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1) Turn off the water heater.
2. 2) Measure the height of the water heater and cut the blanket to fit if necessary.
3. 3) Wrap the blanket around the water heater and temporarily tape it in place.
4. 4) Using a marker, mark the areas where controls are so that you can cut them out.