Water Heaters in the Garage
by: AHIT http://www.ahit.com/news/Garage-Water-Heaters.htm
Water heater
You may live in an area of the country where the majority of water heaters are located in the garage. It is acceptable to have water heaters in the garage but there are some things that you need to be aware of. The authority on determining what the requirements are for residential water heater installation and safety is the ICC (International Code Council). The following information is taken from the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) section P2801.6 and P2803.6.1 commentary.
Water heaters having an ignition source shall be elevated so that the source of ignition is not less than 18” above the garage floor. An ignition source could be many things, including an open flame, electrical switch, open resistance heating coils, or an electrical igniter unit. Residential garages have a high potential for volatile liquids, such as gasoline and paint thinners that can spill or leak from their containers. Because the vapors from these liquids are heavier than air, they concentrate just above floor level, posing an explosion hazard in garages with a water heater.
Many electric water heater thermostats have enclosed contacts, but they are not sealed gas tight. Therefore, if an electric water heater with an ignition source located less than 18” from the bottom of the unit, it is required that the unit be elevated so the ignition source (thermostat) is at least 18” above the garage floor. Electric water heaters having all switching controls located above 18” from the bottom of the water heater are not required to be elevated.
Gas-fired appliances have to meet the elevation requirement for elevation above the garage floor, but have an exception to allow gas-fired appliances having flammable vapor ignition resistant (FVIR) design to be installed without elevating the unit.
Did you know? 6 Facts about Dryer Exhaust Safety
dryer vent
Information provided by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) Public Safety Bulletin
According to manufacturer’s specifications and local codes, dryer ducts must be a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and at least as large as the dryer outlet.
Unless otherwise specified by the dryer’s manufacturer or local code, the developed length of the dryer’s exhaust duct should not exceed 25 feet. (When determining developed length, each 90 degree turn adds 5 feet to the actual length.)
Dryer vents shall be independent of all other systems and terminate outdoors, not into a chimney, crawl space, or attic.
The outside dryer exhaust vent’s termination hood should be equipped with a back draft damper to ensure that the exhaust doesn’t come back into the home.
Metal transition ducts should be used between the dryer and the exhaust duct.
Flexible transition ducts should never be used in an attic, a crawl space, or inside a wall.
Posted compliments of:
Ken Hutchins/916
615-337-7146 cell
866-940-8460 fax
visit our website: www.hutchinshomeinspection.com
email address: kenneth.hutchins@earthlink.net
