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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Anacortes, Washington
    Posts
    415

    Default Water heater sitting on Concrete

    I had a newly constructed home with a the water heater sitting on the concrete. Does anyone know if a thermo break is recommended by any of the manufacturers? This was a Bradford White.

    Thanks

    //Rick

    Member Benefits1
    Rick Bunzel
    WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
    360-588-6956

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
    Posts
    3,747

    Default Re: Water heater sitting on Concrete

    I'm not aware of any requirement.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Bozeman, Montana
    Posts
    94

    Default Re: Water heater sitting on Concrete

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Bunzel View Post
    I had a newly constructed home with a the water heater sitting on the concrete. Does anyone know if a thermo break is recommended by any of the manufacturers? This was a Bradford White.

    Thanks

    //Rick
    Haven't heard of a manufacturer's recommendation for one (thermal break)......but are you sure you don't have one anyhow? Newly constructed home, a lot of ours have rigid foam placed under the slab. Definitely, if there is to be radiant heat in slab.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Near Philly, Pa.
    Posts
    1,682

    Default Re: Water heater sitting on Concrete

    The tank itself is not in direct contact with the slab so there is limited heat transfer, esp. with a standing pilot. Gas direct vent fireplaces that are placed on concrete are recommended to have a thermal energy break but not required. Also, they are very light so we typically use Homosote Board, which can handle the weight. It would not be able to handle the roughly 400 lbs of a typical 40 gallon water heater so I'm not sure what material you could use under a WH that would not crush, provide a modicum of 'R' value and be stable enough.

    Keep the fire in the fireplace.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    553

    Default Re: Water heater sitting on Concrete

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Bunzel View Post
    I had a newly constructed home with a the water heater sitting on the concrete. Does anyone know if a thermo break is recommended by any of the manufacturers? This was a Bradford White.

    Thanks

    //Rick
    Interesting question. Even when we were going through that big "seal up everything" movement a few years ago, I haven't seen any product designed to provide a thermal break on water heaters that are directly placed on concrete.

    Gas water heaters in most cases are not an issue as the tank is above the burner, I am assuming you have electric. If water heater is mounted on a metal stand 18" above the floor (required in some areas), you have your thermal break. If the installation included a plastic drip pan plumbed to the outside---you have your thermal break.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    New Westminster BC
    Posts
    55

    Default Re: Water heater sitting on Concrete

    I do not know if the heater is in a basement or not, but a plastic drip pan is a good idea if there's any possibility of moisture coming up through the concrete being trapped under the base of the heater promoting rust.

    risin
    Quote Originally Posted by Rich Goeken View Post
    Interesting question. Even when we were going through that big "seal up everything" movement a few years ago, I haven't seen any product designed to provide a thermal break on water heaters that are directly placed on concrete.

    Gas water heaters in most cases are not an issue as the tank is above the burner, I am assuming you have electric. If water heater is mounted on a metal stand 18" above the floor (required in some areas), you have your thermal break. If the installation included a plastic drip pan plumbed to the outside---you have your thermal break.



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