Why Is My Water Heater On A Pedestal?(Guide)

Why Is My Water Heater On A Pedestal?

Your water heater is on a pedestal to prevent fire incidents. This prevents vapors and other flammable fumes from spilling.Water heater stands exist for a reason. They are safe and will help you reduce fire risks and other combustible fluids from gasoline that may lying on the ground. 

However, your heater may need repair, so how do you know if that’s the case? You should examine your water heater and ensure that all the parts are present.

If one or more is missing, you must call a professional for help or go ahead and replace it yourself.

First, you have to check the water heater’s power cord. Does it have one? If not, the first thing to do is check if you’ve correctly set the House Electrical Panel.

You’ll need an electrician to help with this, who will either move your fuse box if there isn’t room to install a new panel or will install a new one if there is enough space in your home.

Make sure that you ground the electrical panel. The easiest way is to run a piece of wire from the panel across the floor and then connect it to a ground screw in the nearest wall.

Next, check the water heater itself. Look for leaks or any other problems with it.

Pay attention to its thermostat, thermostatically controlled elements, water tank, and heating element — if any of these are faulty, they will need repair.

Check your owner’s manual if you aren’t sure how to check if these are in working order or if they’re present.

The last but equally essential step is to ensure that you have hot and cold water. Check this by running the hot water first and then the cold.

They should both have the same temperature — if they don’t, your heater is not working correctly.

This may be more difficult to figure out if you have an older heater without a thermostat. If it’s an older model that the manufacturer has changed, consult your owner’s manual for this.

How High To Raise The Water Heater Above The Floor?

Water heaters have become an essential appliance since people use them daily. But what do you know about the water heaters found in your home? Let’s explore more about these devices.

It would be best to raise your water heater 18 inches above the floor. This height is necessary to avoid the possibility of water leaks.

If you need to raise your water heater over 18 inches, hire a professional to do it for you.

Remember that this includes the height of any vents and pipes you need for your system and the actual height.

The maximum height of a gas water heater is 60 inches, and electric water heaters have a maximum height of 54 inches.

You will also want to ensure ample clearance in the walls and under the sink.

If they don’t have proper insulation and there are no openings in the cabinetry, water could pool around them and cause a possible leak.

You should install your water heater on a wall stud, if possible. If it’s not on a wall stud, it should be flush with the wall.

You should center your water heater’s vent pipe over where it goes into your home’s plumbing system.

If you have not centered it, you can run an extra pipe to place it on a stud or use a ballcock to regulate the water flow.

The electric water heater’s vent pipe size should be close to the electrical box to reduce electric usage.

Do You Need To Elevate An Electric Water Heater?

No. Electric water heaters need no elevation because they produce water at a specific temperature. They require no external energy source and are not chemically altered during heating.

There’s nothing in the way of your electric water heater from standing up on its own. Suppose you don’t want your electric water heater to be in a high place.

In that case, I recommend you contact an electrician to see if they can build one or help make modifications so that you could put it at ground level.

Electric water heaters have a specific temperature that they produce at. The temperature itself is usually determined by the model and brand of your water heater.

If you have an electric water heater that produces hot and cold water, it should be able to produce hot water at a set temperature, such as 122 degrees Fahrenheit or 199 degrees Fahrenheit.

The idea is to produce a specific amount of hot water for you at a given temperature and for a specific purpose.

In addition, electric water heaters are not altered when they engage in heating. This means that an electric water heater is not altered chemically by the element or undergoes any reaction.

In the same way, when an electric water heater is at rest, there’s little chance of any discharge into your water.

Is It ‘Code’ To Have A Pan Under A Hot Water Heater?

No. That would be a ‘code violation.’ For plumbing, codes state that the drainpipe opening in the pan must not be over 10” below the bottom of the pan.

This is to prevent sewer gases from entering buildings – and keeping it at least 10” above means that any condensation and water spilled on top will have time to evaporate.

For gas appliances, the pan must have a ‘baffle’ (a barrier) across under the regulator valve (because if it’s a leaky pressure regulator valve, sewer gases can suck back into the room).

If you have a 10” deep pan, you can’t put anything beneath it – even if it should be – because there isn’t anything for water to evaporate onto.

You either have to leave a gap between the pan and the floor or put something with a high water capacity (such as a construction-grade plastic bucket) below it to catch any spills, condensation, etc.

If it’s code-compliant, it won’t cause you any problems selling your house if you still have it there.

Many newer houses have a pan. But, there but nothing beneath it. This is to prevent people from thinking that it must be there for a reason – because it looks very out of place with nothing in or under it.

Can You Elevate A Water Heater?

Yes. You can elevate a water heater per code requirement. A water heater should be no less than 18” off the floor and not more than 24” off the ground.

Suppose you’re lucky to live in a building with an old furnace that exhausts into the basement.

In that case, it’s also possible to elevate your water heater by installing your steel venting pipe from the top of your water heater to a point 6’ or higher above grade level outside of your house.

If you can’t find a 6’ section of pipe, a taller section of pipe is better than a shorter one. An extra height will give the water vapor more time to condense as it travels through the exhaust system.

Suppose you reside in a newer building with a gas furnace (or don’t care about carbon monoxide safety).

In that case, it’s also possible to use flexible gas venting instead of steel venting and run that up through your roof and above the roof-line.

While code is pretty lax for water heaters, they have some rules.

Your new venting pipe has to have a type B (2.5” diameter) or type L (3” diameter) class stamp from the local building department and should be at least 3” in diameter for a 4” flue collar size (if your water heater is greater than 40 gallons).

Do You Need To Put A Water Tank On A Slab?

No. Although making your water tank on a slab can be tempting, that is not the best way to go about it.

It’s inconvenient because you might have to cut through your floor or change the plumbing valve depending on how much space is available.

It would be smart to build a raised garden bed. This will give you more air and allow for easy access between the dirt and water tanks so that you don’t have any interruption of flow with an additional step involved in getting into them.

When you select where to place the water tank, make sure that it is not directly over any electrical wires or where there are underground utilities.

The last thing you want to cause is an electrical fire in your house. You can find a substitute location for your water tank or buy one with a larger capacity.

To ensure maximum flow and efficiency, have at least 50 Psi of pressure when pumping out the system.

For example, if you have a 3,000-gallon water tank, it would be beneficial to have a pump output 50 Psi.

That way, you know that your water lines are getting enough pressure to push the water out and keep them flowing efficiently.

Also, putting a water tank on a concrete slab or alongside the house foundation where it’s directly at ground level will not allow good air exchange in the system.

There is no airflow in the system, which creates stagnation. This will lead to poor water flow, which could eventually cause the entire tank to fill up with stagnant air.

Can You Bury Poly Water Tanks in the Ground?

Yes. You can bury a poly water tank in the ground, not just any old place. Directly under the tank, the soil needs to be at least 1-0” thick and have no large roots.

If you don’t have enough soil or space underground for your tank, you can also use a unique concrete ring to support it instead.

There are also some other guidelines for burying poly tanks to avoid leaking water into your home below them (which would not be good).

While you can bury poly water tanks in the ground, there are some caveats you need to realize before you decide to go ahead with this.

First, as all poly water tanks are, the soil used for burial mustn’t be over-saturated with water. You want to ensure that the soil has no puddles or large open spaces where water could collect and cause damage.

It is also essential that the ground is remarkably even. If you have a slight hill where your tank will be, or if it’s slightly sunken, it can cause a real problem.

If the ground around the tank fills with water, it can pool and potentially cause damage to your tank, affecting the integrity of its structure in the process.

Poly tanks are safe to bury in the ground because they are strong enough to withstand forces working against them.

Other options, such as fiberglass tanks, cannot withstand the elements and, thus, you cannot bury them. They only have rates for ground contact on flat surfaces.

Also, there is always a risk of ground movement in the area where you bury your poly tank.

This can cause the ground to shift in a way that folds or crumples your water tank when it should not have.

Fiberglass water tanks in an area where this could happen would be much worse off than poly tanks because they are much more fragile and easily crushed.

Is It Possible To Bury A Water Tank In The Ground?

Yes. It’s possible to bury a water tank in the ground. This is true where there is little or no ground moisture or clay, common area’s soil conditions.

You are looking to bury water tanks under 10-20 feet of dirt from your property line to anywhere within that distance of underground utilities.

If you live on a well and plan to extend it, you’ll need to dig about two times as deep before reaching underground services. You’ll have to dig down deep enough where there are no more underground services.

Sheet metal tanks are best buried as they are durable and long-lasting, especially if you bury them in the ground. The same goes for fiberglass tanks.

If you reside where the ground is wet or has a lot of clay, concrete water tanks may be better than non-concrete water tanks. It all depends on your soil conditions.

There are certain reasons to bury water tanks in the ground. For instance, you can prevent contamination of water by wildlife and insects. You can also keep children from playing in it.

Also, if you don’t want to maintain the water tank, then burying it is a great option.

Some people also choose to bury their water tanks for security purposes or if they don’t want the supposed eye-sore of it on the outside of their property.

You can also bury a water tank in the ground for other reasons, such as an earthquake.

The water tank would provide a safe place for you and your family to wait out the earthquake so that you do not have to leave your home during it.

It is also possible to bury water tanks to deter trespassers from entering your property.

Why Do Water Heaters Have To Be On A Stand?

Water heaters need to be on a stand to prevent fire hazards and other water heater problems.

If you’re considering a stand for your water heater, here are some of the most common reasons people choose to place their water heaters on a stand.

By placing the water heater on a stand, you’re reducing the risk of potential fire hazards.

Standing it up also helps avoid potential plumbing problems in our home by preventing sediment from building up along its bottom edge.

Placing the water heater on a stand also helps extend its longevity so that you can use it for longer.

Like those with tankless technology, some water heaters require you to place them on a stand,otherwise will lead to the unit overheating and potentially causing a fire.

Ensure that you’re using the right stand to avoid any potential risks.

If you’re placing your water heater on a stand, you’re also going  to make sure that you know where it’s located in your home to use it correctly.

Although most of us already know where our water heaters are, some of us might not have the ideal location for them around our home.

Can The Water Heater Sit On The Garage Floor?

Yes. It can. Your water heater can now sit on your garage floor without worrying about it catching fire.

It may seem absurd, but it’s a great way to save you some money and keep your house safe. Plus, you’ll be freeing up some space in your living room.

Water heaters catch fire if you don’t correctly install them or left on the floor.

It’s essential to always keep the outlet of your water heater at least 2 feet above the floor or on an even surface, like a table.

Some homes don’t have basements, so they have to put water heaters on their garage floors. This is extremely risky and can cause significant damage to your heater as it sits in a garage.

If you’ve been in this situation, you’ll probably run around looking for something to cover your water heater to keep it from catching fire. Not a great idea.

Some people use cardboard boxes, but that isn’t the safest option either. Instead, I have discovered a safe solution that works just as well.

RobotShop has an extraordinarily cheap and safe way of covering your water heater. They sell many PVC covers you can use to cover up your water heater.

Can You Use A Plastic Pan On A Gas Water Heater?

No. It could leak and cause a fire hazard. A gas water heater is usually in two parts: the water storage tank and the heating system. The storage tank needs to be of metal for safety precautions.

The heating system doesn’t need to get as hot or have a metal that’s not flammable to have cheaper materials like plastic. For example, your water pipes compose plastic.

On the other hand, plastic is non-flammable, and it’s not as strong as metal.

This means that if you have a plastic pan filled with water on your gas water heater, it will melt,  the heat from the gas has concentrated in the heating system rather than distribution in the tank.

The water won’t boil as fast, and it would leak into the rest of the heating system rather than the pipes pushing it out. This could cause a fire.

If you want to use the water in your water heater, you can always get a bucket or pitcher and pour it out.

If you have more than one hot water appliance in your home, they can share the same heater, so having a plastic pan filled with water wouldn’t increase your energy consumption.

The other thing you can do is keep the gas water heater turned off when you don’t need hot water.

If you follow the above methods, you should be safe while using plastic containers to fill your gas water heater. But it’s always good to check your local building codes, including fire regulations.

Sometimes if the building code requires that the heater get hotter than a specific temperature, using plastic in the tank can cause safety hazards.

Use an appropriate metal container to fill the tank with water and keep it away from children and pets.

Conclusion

Water heater stands exist for a reason. They are safe and will help you reduce your fire risks and other potential issues. I use one for my gas water heater.

If you have no plumbing problems, you can skip the stands, but water heater performance will suffer.