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Old 08-30-2009, 08:13 PM   #1
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Water heater in basement

Hello,

I was hoping for a little help,I have a 50 yr. old house in california with the water heater in the basement(original location). A inspector told me I need 1. to raise it 18" off floor...theres no way I only have like 10" from top to floor joist. and 2. plumb the T&P to the outside.
I have the line 6" off floor not sure how to get outside..have deep sink on other side of basement that I guess I could run it to but its like 15' away and it would have to be run in the joists.

any help would be appriciated

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Old 08-30-2009, 08:36 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robanderin View Post
Hello,

I was hoping for a little help,I have a 50 yr. old house in california with the water heater in the basement(original location). A inspector told me I need 1. to raise it 18" off floor...theres no way I only have like 10" from top to floor joist. and 2. plumb the T&P to the outside.
I have the line 6" off floor not sure how to get outside..have deep sink on other side of basement that I guess I could run it to but its like 15' away and it would have to be run in the joists.

any help would be appriciated
Your best bet would be to get a plumber around and check that out. I have never heard of having to raise a hot water cylinder of the ground by that much if at all and your temp/pressure relief should really be piped to where it cant burn anyone if it's goes off. We used to pipe them through an external wall and use a return elbow and point the pipe back toward the wall so that if there was ever a issue you would see the water coming from it and no one would get burnt from heated water.
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Old 08-31-2009, 07:24 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robanderin View Post
Hello,

I was hoping for a little help,I have a 50 yr. old house in california with the water heater in the basement(original location). A inspector told me I need 1. to raise it 18" off floor...theres no way I only have like 10" from top to floor joist. and 2. plumb the T&P to the outside.
I have the line 6" off floor not sure how to get outside..have deep sink on other side of basement that I guess I could run it to but its like 15' away and it would have to be run in the joists.

any help would be appriciated
And what was the reason to raise it? When installed in garages they should be 18" off the floor because of potential gas fumes
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Old 08-31-2009, 09:11 AM   #4
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To many things don't make sense.

What kind of inspector was this?
Why was the inspector there?
What else is going on in the basement?
When was the water heater installed?
Who installed the water heater?
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Old 08-31-2009, 12:05 PM   #5
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I'm not a plumber or inspector but I have no idea why an inspector told you the WH had to be elevated unless you basement is a garage.
The book had this to say about the temp relief piping

2006 IRC P2803.6.1 Requirements for discharge pipe. The discharge piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperature relief lve or combination valve shall:
1. Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same room as the water heater.
3. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve served and shall discharge full size to the air gap.
4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
5. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor or to the outdoors. Where discharging to the outdoors
in areas subject to freezing, discharge piping shall be first piped to an indirect waste receptor
through an air gap located in a conditioned area.
6. Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal injury or structural damage.
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by the building occupants.
8. Not be trapped.
9. Be installed to flow by gravity.
10. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above
the floor or waste receptor.
11. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
12. Not have valves or tee fittings.
13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section P2904.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for
such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1
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Old 08-31-2009, 12:31 PM   #6
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I'd post the question here, lots of helpful guys(cough cough):

http://www.plumbingzone.com/f2/
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Old 08-31-2009, 12:35 PM   #7
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I'd post the question here, lots of helpful guys(cough cough):

Why start trouble J F?
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Old 08-31-2009, 12:43 PM   #8
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Maybe I'm paranoid...but I sense that people are playing games on the forum(s)
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Old 08-31-2009, 01:13 PM   #9
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Notice all those rules but it says nothing about the discharge pipe being PVC..so it can snap at the when discharged and scald everyone nearby...
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Old 08-31-2009, 01:26 PM   #10
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Notice all those rules but it says nothing about the discharge pipe being PVC..so it can snap at the when discharged and scald everyone nearby...
13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section P2904.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for
such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1

TABLE P2904.5
WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPE
MATERIAL ------------------------------------------------ STANDARD
Brass pipe ------------------------------------------------ ASTM B 43
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) plastic pipe and tubing - ASTM D 2846; ASTM F 441; ASTM F 442; CSA B137.6
Copper or copper-alloy pipe -------------------------------- ASTM B 42; ASTM B 302
Copper or copper-alloy tubing (Type K, WK, L, WL, M or WM) -- ASTM B 75; ASTM B 88; ASTM B 251; ASTM B 447
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) plastic tubing ---------------- ASTM F 877; CSA B137.5
Cross-linked polyethylene/aluminum/cross-linked polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX) pipe - ASTM F 1281; CSACAN/CSA-B137.10
Cross-linked polyethylene/aluminum/high-density polyethylene (PEX-AL-HDPE) - ASTM F 1986
Galvanized steel pipe ---------------------------------------- ASTM A 53
Polybutylene (PB) plastic pipe and tubing --------------------- ASTM D 3309; CSA CAN3-B137.8
Polyethylene/aluminum/polyethylene (PE-AL-PE) composite pipe - ASTM F 1282
Polypropylene (PP) plastic pipe or tubing ----------------------- ASTM F 2389; CSA B137.11
Stainless steel (Type 304/304L) pipe -------------------------- ASTM A 312; ASTM A 778
Stainless steel (Type 316/316L) pipe -------------------------- ASTM A 312; ASTM A 778


PVC is not listed on the approved materials for this application.
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Last edited by mics_54; 08-31-2009 at 01:33 PM.
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Old 08-31-2009, 02:15 PM   #11
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Why start trouble J F?

Trouble? Surely you jest...the guys over at http://www.plumbingzone.com/f2/ are nothing but helpful, courteous, kind hearted souls. Very helpful bunch.
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Old 08-31-2009, 02:41 PM   #12
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Trouble? Surely you jest...the guys over at http://www.plumbingzone.com/f2/ are nothing but helpful, courteous, kind hearted souls. Very helpful bunch.
Your judging an entire community on the actions of a few members?

Nice.
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Old 08-31-2009, 02:46 PM   #13
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here we go again...this crap gets old.
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Old 08-31-2009, 02:50 PM   #14
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Your judging an entire community on the actions of a few members?

Nice.
No, just the few.
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Old 08-31-2009, 03:25 PM   #15
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No, just the few.
Nice way to high jack a thread for your petty little fight.


Back to the OP concerns< I would call your local plumbing inspector and have him / her clarify what the code is for your water heater. Something just does not sound right.
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Old 09-17-2009, 02:07 AM   #16
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The inspector is totaly wrong or being a dick. The only reason a water heater should be 18" of the floor is if it's located in a garage or any place containing flammable liquids.
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