electric water heater closet - ventilation/air circulation requirements?

**Joanne Smith** · 04-26-2013, 10:52 PM

Hi,

For electric water heater in closet, does one need to worry about mold if nothing leaks?

I have a electric water heater with a louvered door. There was water break and the water went in the closet. The door was open to let the space dry. Eventually some mold was formed.

The insurance said the mold is not from the water but the lack of ventilation in the closet and the warmth/moisture from the water heater caused the mold.

I have lived in so many places with water heaters in various spaces, including very tight area with solid door, and I have never heard of such claim. The water heater has no leak, and the space always feel dry. Is it really a designed flaw or is it just the insurance trying to get out of paying for the water damage?

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**Scott Patterson** · 04-27-2013, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by Joanne Smith

Hi,

For electric water heater in closet, does one need to worry about mold if nothing leaks?

I have a electric water heater with a louvered door. There was water break and the water went in the closet. The door was open to let the space dry. Eventually some mold was formed.

The insurance said the mold is not from the water but the lack of ventilation in the closet and the warmth/moisture from the water heater caused the mold.

I have lived in so many places with water heaters in various spaces, including very tight area with solid door, and I have never heard of such claim. The water heater has no leak, and the space always feel dry. Is it really a designed flaw or is it just the insurance trying to get out of paying for the water damage?

Get the insurance company to put their opinion in writing. I bet they will not do it....

Mold needs moisture to live and grow, remove the moisture and it will go dormant or die. The moisture came from the leak not because the WH is in a closet.

**Joanne Smith** · 04-27-2013, 07:24 AM

they actually did and the responsible party accepted it.

**Scott Patterson** · 04-27-2013, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Joanne Smith

they actually did and the responsible party accepted it.

Well then the need to be taken to court! No way they can prove it!

**Joanne Smith** · 04-27-2013, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

Well then the need to be taken to court! No way they can prove it!

Only if law suits are affordable for good people.....

**John Kogel** · 04-28-2013, 10:37 AM

I live in Mold Paradise, Pacific North West Coast and I can tell you that most of us have electric water heaters in closets. It is how we do it. The warmth from the heater keeps the closet warm and dry.

If you turn power off on the water heater, leave the closet open until you get back from your holiday.

**William Cline** · 04-30-2013, 12:46 AM

Insurance company is trying to dodge the claim. If there had been no leak, where would the moisture come from. If the moisture was solely due to the heat from the water heater, the mold would be concentrated at the ceiling, since warm air rises carrying the moisture with it. Weak tactic to keep your money.

**Joanne Smith** · 04-30-2013, 02:28 PM

i know. unfortunately i have no recourse because the condo accepted the reason and i am out of luck. injustice!!

**William Cline** · 04-30-2013, 02:52 PM

If the HOA accepts the determination and agrees to the "design flaw", then by reason of selling you a flawed abode, they should pickup the tab.

**Jerry Peck** · 04-30-2013, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Joanne Smith

... does one need to worry about mold if nothing leaks?

The real question to me is: Why does one need to worry about mold anyway, and why is the mold part of the question.

You stated there was a water break, so repair the break, clean things up, dry things out, repaint as necessary, and move on - why is the insurance company involved, did you want them to gut the place and replace all of the drywall over some mold when the problem is not the mold, it is the moisture, in your case you stated it was a broken pipe - once the pipe is repaired/replaced, dry the area out and remove the mold with some chlorine bleach and water, let that dry out, prime with a white pigmented shellac to seal any stains back, then paint.

This is not rocket science stuff here.