Hot Water Heater In Attic Frozen

Code expert glenn mathewson describes 10 common water heater code issues including confusion about drip pans and drains unsupported expansion tanks and plastic vents lack of combustion air and more.

Hot water heater in attic frozen. Another option is to choose a tankless water heaterto be installed in your attic. Now that we are all much more aware of the environmental impact all our waste has on our planet we. Now a secondary line of reasoning for placing a water heater in the attic is the high temperatures that occur in an attic particularly during the summer months. Department of energy estimates that in homes using 41 gallons or less of hot water on demand tankless units can conserve between 24 to 34 more energy than tank water heaters.

For many years it was common practice to send your old hot water heater straight to the junkyard. Use a space heater or other heating element to apply heat indirectly to the frozen area until it thaws. When a water heater is located in an attic attic ceiling assembly floor ceiling assembly or floor subfloor assembly where damage results from a leaking water heater a watertight pan of corrosion resistant materials shall be installed beneath the water heater with not less than 3 4 diameter drain to an approved location. Hot water heaters generally last roughly ten years give or take a few years so this isn t something homeowner s encounter on a regular basis.

You can check by simply touching the water heater to find the spot where it s ice cold. Next is figuring out where you would like to relocate your water heater to. Installing a tankless water heater is a greater upfront investment but these units can significantly cut the cost of monthly utilities. This is far less expensive than your water heater leaking and causing thousands of dollars worth of water damage.

This will often be the case. Slowly heat the pipe in this way and eventually the frozen place will thaw and allow water to pass. This is one of the most highly impactful parts of your decision in regards to cost next to purchasing a new unit. Your attic can easily reach temperatures of 120 140 degrees which is optimum for keeping the water in your tank sufficiently hot without using any energy.

Check if the water heater itself is frozen or if it s just the pipes leading in and out of the unit. Installing a tank water heater might seem easy but homeowners who refinish their basements often create a number of code violations with respect to the water heater. If the builder has already installed your water heater in the attic you can get it moved to another location in the house or into the garage. First and foremost is the safety and code of moving the water heater.