Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Water heater replacement by Home Depot
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Old 01-11-2024, 03:19 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kkingston57 View Post
Two years ago, I had mine replaced and licensed well known plumber in TV did not install a pan. Asked installer and he said that it was not required since it was in the garage and garage floor was lower than living area floor and if/when tank wore out it would drain onto the driveway. Do not know if code changed since that time. He did not pull a permit and I do not know if a permit was needed.
The typical water heater installation for new houses in The Villages does include a drain pan. The water heater is installed on an 18-inch high platform in the garage, so it is definitely higher than the living space. The garage floor is not below the living space floor level, except for a slight slope in the garage floor. Here is what the plumbing code says about drain pans:

"Where a storage tank-type water heater or a hot water storage tank is installed in a location where water leakage from the tank will cause damage, the tank shall be installed in a pan ..."

I think a water heater leak could cause damage in the garage because most garages have finished and painted drywall, some are enclosed in a closet, and the wood platform could also be damaged. I have not recently seen any plumber install a water heater without a drain pan, and I would not allow that type of installation in my house.