By: Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
We just bought a home and hired a home inspector to check it out. After moving in, we found a second water heater in a bedroom closet. Our home inspector apparently missed this fixture since he didn't include it in his report. We're concerned because our grandchildren will use this bedroom when they come to visit. Is it legal and safe to have a water heater in a closet? - Calvin
Dear Calvin,
You should call your home inspector to request that the newly discovered water heater be evaluated and that the home inspection report be amended to reflect the new findings.
Whether a water heater in a bedroom closet violates safety standards depends upon whether the fixture is fueled by gas or electricity. A gas-burning water heater is prohibited in a bedroom or an adjoining closet because it draws oxygen from the room and may vent exhaust gases into an area where people are sleeping. If this is a gas-fueled water heater, removal to another area of the home is recommended, unless the walls can be reconfigured to make the fixture no longer accessible from the bedroom. If the water heater is an electrical unit, you should contact your local building department to be sure that the closet is an approved location.
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