Can you enclose a water heater

The water heater's ventilation system removes these byproducts from the home, making it a critical safety feature. In most cases, the type of ventilation system depends on the type of water heater. Tankless water heaters can be installed anywhere inside your home.

You can even have a tankless water heater in a bathroom! Some families with larger homes choose to install two, one for each floor, for example. Because of their small size, they fit in closets, cabinets , pantries or laundry rooms.

The short answer to whether a water heater can be enclosed is "Yes," but there are some important things to consider when placing a hot water heater in an enclosed area, whether the unit is gas or electric. Any hot water heater must be installed in such a way as to prevent spills and allow easy access to controls.

How much space do you need around a water heater? The clearance space needed around a hot water heater is dependent upon whether the heater is a gas or electric model. 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.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a water heater? A gas water heater that has been neglected, improperly installed or poorly vented could leak carbon monoxide, which can be downright deadly.

Headache, dizziness, weakness and upset stomach are the most common signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Should a water heater be on a stand? Most water heaters are placed on stands when installed in a garage. The water heater stand is designed to keep the gas burner inches off of the floor there are some code exceptions.

Certain local codes may require this for electric water heaters too. Where is the best place to put a water heater? Most water heaters are located in the home's garage, basement, or attic. Water heaters not including tankless can take up a lot of space. Houzz TV. Houzz Research. Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card! Enclosing a water heater? Email Save Comment 6. Sort by: Oldest. Newest Oldest.

First question; is it gas or electric? Like Save. Related Discussions To redo laundry room containing hot water heater and a furnace.

If natural gas is supplied to your area an on demand hot water heater would be a great investment. Possible payoff in less than 1 year. In North Carolina the gas company is rebating the install costs. Oil water heater vs electric water heater Q. Without knowing the specifics of utility rates in your area, I would lean toward electric over oil, if only because it's so much cleaner.

You didn't mention gas-fired, so I assume it's not available where you live. Regardless of the fuel, I would definitely replace with a larger capacity heater. Kitchen renovation advice Q. I'd surely move the washer to someplace where it can cohabit with the dryer. If you need some time to save up for that, you could try to get a cabinet to take the place of the washer, and then paint them all to match probably white, to make the appliances blend in best.

You could try to enclose the water heater in a cupboard at the same time, and ideally get little counter space to the left of the stove to make the space more functional, even if it's just a rolling cart. We need a picture but this is something you often see in Europe and they are never covered so you might need to check to see if yours can be covered.

The process for constructing the wall frame that contains the double doors is slightly different than it is for the other walls. Instead of constructing a frame that runs the entire length of the wall, construct the sides of the frame that fit along each side of the doorway.

Nail the studs to the bottom plates, then nail the top plate to the two sections, leaving a gap between them large enough to contain the double doors and a two-by-four called a jack stud on each side of the doorway. The jack studs are two-by-fours the same height as the doors, and are nailed to the end studs on the edges of the doorway. Cut a two-by-four to fit across the width of the doorway, place it on top of the jack studs and nail it in place.

This board is the header. Strengthen the framing over the doorway by cutting blocks called cripple studs to fit between the header and the top plate. The cripple studs are spaced so there is no more than a inch gap between them and the surrounding studs.

If you have a gas water heater, cut holes into the drywall for the air vents. Place one vent hole 12 inches from the floor in one wall, and the other vent hole 12 inches from the ceiling of the adjoining wall.

Apply a coat of primer to the drywall and allow it to dry, then coat the drywall with two coats of paint. Install the vent covers onto the holes, and install the prehung double doors.