Clearance Around Electric Water Heater

Many water heaters especially traditional electric ones require changes to your wiring and potentially the breaker box.

Clearance around electric water heater.

But a 30 inch by 30 level floor area is required by code at the front service side of the water heater per m1305 1 2 of the international residential code irc and residential edition of the florida building code fbc. So the national electrical code requirement nec 110 26 a for equipment likely to require examination adjustment servicing or maintenance while energized applies which specifies a working space 36 deep and 30 wide in front of. If the space that holds your water heater doubles as a storage or laundry room make sure you keep it organized and clean. Set your store to see local availability add to cart.

35 to 40 inches. Sunday june 17 2018. Clear the area around your water heater. Since water heaters run on electricity or fuel such as oil propane or gas it is important to ensure that your water heater has adequate space for proper ventilation.

Do keep it clean and safe. 20 to 25 inches. In an attempt to maximize finished floor space when boxing off the water heater from the rest of the room people often don t leave enough clearance between the new wall framing and the vent pipes. A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater.

Basement finishing projects are notorious for this code violation. Bill if nothing else use 110 3 b listing and labeling and 110 26 working space. Single wall vents get very hot requiring a 6 in. Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance or air space to function properly and safely.

What is required clearance for access and working space in front of an electric water heater. 40 to 45 inches. Save 50 00 19 free delivery. 6 year 120 volt point of use mini tank electric water heater model andris rs 8u 1 4kw 209 00.

However many electrical equipment codes do recommend the provision of a 30 inch working space on the front and sides of the heater to allow for examination adjustment or maintenance of the electrical equipment. Ariston andris 8 gal. Save 50 00 19 209 00. Although an electric water heater like the heat pump one shown above is part of a home plumbing system it is an electric appliance.

25 to 30 inches. Being as that is electrical equipment and is likely to require examination adjustment servicing or maintenance while energized it must have the required 30 wide working space by 36 in front of the electrical access and service area the elements and connection point and an access path to that working space. More options available. The clearance at the sides back and above a gas water heater are specified by the manufactured in the installation manual and they typically vary from zero to just a few inches.

Unlike other heating devices electric heaters do not require a minimum clearance. 15 to 20 inches. Monday january 13 2020. 30 to 35 inches.