Clearance Around Electric 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.

Clearance around electric water heater.

Many water heaters especially traditional electric ones require changes to your wiring and potentially the breaker box. Clear the area around your 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. Water heater clearance is there a code requirement for space around an electric water heater.

There does however have to be adequate working space 24 inches commonly around the heater to service the burner and replace the heater. Most water heaters do not have large requirements for combustible clearances. Ariston andris 4 gal. If the space that holds your water heater doubles as a storage or laundry room make sure you keep it organized and clean.

6 year 120 volt corded point of use mini tank electric water heater model andris rs 4u 1 4kw 209 00 209 00. Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance or air space to function properly and safely. Although an electric water heater like the heat pump one shown above is part of a home plumbing system it is an electric appliance. In order to remove it the air handler would first have to be removed or the wall would have to be removed.

A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater. Doors into closets or rooms with water heaters should be wide enough to allow for removal and replacement. Single wall vents get very hot requiring a 6 in. What is required clearance for access and working space in front of an electric water heater.

Some gas units only need 1 inch clearance. Set your store to see local availability add to cart. 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. Sunday june 17 2018.

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. Monday january 13 2020. Unlike other heating devices electric heaters do not require a minimum clearance. 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.

Beyond a water heater permit some areas may also require either an electric or plumbing permit depending on the type of water heater. Twenty four inches of service clearance in front and two inches on the back and sides is recommended for gas water heaters whereas electric heaters do not require minimum clearance. Clearances of less than 6 inches are common. Basement finishing projects are notorious for this code violation.