I've a hall closet in my one-story home that contains my furnace and my 40-gallon natural gas-powered water heater. I've a considerable crawl space and I wish to re-locate my water heater, placing it there. The reason? I could make better use of the closet space and, since my home is in the Atlanta, Georgia (USA), environs, I tend to believe that it would be appropriate -- at least considering our lowest average annual temperature -- to place it in my crawlspace with, of course, sufficient insulation. I suspect I'd best purchase a new water heater to start with since my present one is at least seven years old. But my real question is whether I may place a water heater on its side so that another 40-gallon heater will fit in my crawl space without a lot of digging. Also, there may be numerous other considerations that in my inexperience I've not even considered and I certainly welcome any input, suggestions, advice.

 

It's not going to work, sorry water heaters are designed the stand up, just the thought of the water heater in a crawl space worries me, for I'm a plumber and would not even think of working on a water heater in a crawl space.

How about moving it to your garage if you have one?

Best Regards Plumber2000
www.atozplumbing.com


[This message has been edited by Plumber2000 (edited September 24, 2000).]

 

I'm not a plumber, but I think that I saw a pro in here one time advise that gas water heaters were not allowed in crawlspaces by local code where he was at. Might want to check with your local building inspector.
In any case, I think that it would be far less expensive simply to build more closet space somewhere in the home, than move all that would be necessary for relocating a gas water heater (gas line, vent, hot and cold supply lines, etc,). Good Luck!

 

Good call Oldguy, I did not read the gas part of the heater, I need more coffee

Yes oldguy gave some good advice, it would be cheaper the find another way the get more closet space then trying to move the water heater to a new location, unless you have money to burn.

Best Regards Plumber2000
www.atozplumbing.com

 

Thank you, folks, for your expert and experienced advice. I definitely do NOT have money to burn and I don't want to violate the Code. I've learned the Code is my friend.

 

you might try a tankless water heater. you can find some info pros/cons by doing a search on this site.