Q. Problem With My Water Heater’s Location?

Q. Hey Mark,
I’m in the process of buying a house and just had a home inspection done. One item that the home inspector itemized in the report is the water heater in the garage. He said that it shouldn’t be installed on the floor of the garage. Where else could it be installed? I don’t get it. Every place we’ve lived before had a water heater sitting on the floor.
Thanks,
Dorothy

A. Hey Dorothy,
This is a great question. It sounds like the issue wasn’t explained thoroughly by your inspector. Actually, the problem isn’t that the water heater is on the floor, nor is the problem that the water heater is in the garage. The problem is that the water heater is in the garage AND on the floor.

Here’s why:

Q. Flexible Line With a Water Heater?

Q. Hey Mark, Yesterday someone asked me if they could use “flex line”, like what is used for toilets and under sinks, to connect a gas or electric water heater in his home. What do you think?

Fred O.

 

A. Hey Fred,

I’m not sure what the code officials would say about it, but it doesn’t seem like a good idea from a practical standpoint. The flex lines under sinks and toilets don’t have a very large diameter.