At IM Home Inspections, we find a large number of water heaters we come across have one or more problems due to poor installation. And we often find people believing myths about how a water heater should be installed.

“A water system provided with a check valve, backflow preventer, or other normally closed device that prevents dissipation of building pressure back into the water main, independent of the type of water heater used, shall be provided with an approved, listed, and adequately sized expansion tank “

“Water heaters shall be anchored or strapped to resist horizontal displacement due to earthquake motion. Strapping shall be at points within the upper one third (1/3) and lower one-third (1/3) of its vertical dimensions. At the lower point, a minimum distance of four (4) inches (102 mm) shall be maintained above the controls with the strapping.”

Construction Benefits: Warmzone hydronic systems are virtually fool proof, which helps to ensure proper, accurate installation.

As an industry leader with unmatched customer services, Warmzone also includes free installation training, installation support, and professional system design services. For more details about hydronic floor heating, call a radiant heat expert today at 888-488-9276.

WattsBackflow Preventer

Given the rising energy costs, increasing numbers of homeowners are looking to more efficient heating methods than what is offered by traditional forced-air systems. Forced-air systems rely on a blower that distributes heated air (and dust) through a series of ducts. The air loses warmth as it is pushed through the ductwork, and although vents can be closed in rooms or areas that you do not want to heat, small amounts of warm air still escape these registers. When it comes to efficiency, nothing outperforms radiant heat. The technology is quickly becoming the heating technology of choice as consumers not only discover the remarkable efficiency of these systems, but also the unique, luxurious warmth.

Secondly, the home’s electric grounding system is usually connected to the cold water inlet pipe to the home. Both gas and water metal pipes should be grounded. A water heater creates a break between the cold water pipes and the hot water pipes in the home. By bonding the cold water pipe to the hot water pipe and to the gas pipe at the water heater to the gas pipe, helps to ensure that the entire water and gas plumbing system will be electrically grounded.

Fast Response Time: Warmzone systems deliver a fast response time that limits set point overshoot. In addition to a fast response time, the system provides industry leading BTU/h/ft2 output with the lowest water temperature.

Easy Installation: Warmzone hydronic systems are easy to install and and are compatible with standard construction practices.

The systems utilize special PEX tubing, and provide maximum conductivity and durability. These cost-effective radiant heat systems maintain a low thermal mass – ideal for maximum efficiency, but are easy to control, and there is no need for structural reinforcement.

“In garages and in adjacent spaces that open to the garage and are not part of the living space of a dwelling unit shall be installed so that burners and burner-ignition devices are located not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor unless listed as flammable vapor ignition resistant.”

Installation not Affected by Weather: Warmzone hydronic floor heating systems can be installed in cold weather without fear of freezing.

“A water system provided with a check valve, backflow preventer, or other normally closed device that prevents dissipation of building pressure back into the water main, independent of the type of water heater used, shall be provided with an approved, listed, and adequately sized expansion tank or other approved device having a similar function to control thermal expansion. Such expansion tank or other approved device shall be installed on the building side of the check valve, backflow preventer, or other device and shall be sized and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.”

So unless a home had a very old water heater, the 18-inch rule no longer applies. And if you have a pre-FVIR water heater, chances are it is due to be replaced.

3/4inch check valve pvc

No Double Plating: Warmzone systems eliminate the need for double plating, which adds about 18 cents a square foot to the cost of a home and is needed with thin slab pours.

TPR valves must be connected to a discharge pipe. The old code simply said the pipe must terminate not less than 6 inches from the floor. The problem is all that hot water would ruin the areas around the water heater. So in 2010, the code was modified, and now says

A temperature relief valve, commonly called a TPR or TPRV, is a device that prevents water heaters from exploding. If a water heater overheats, it can become damaged or explode and cause significant damage to both property and people. A TPR valve is a special valve that opens and releases hot water from the water heater should the water heater overheat. They are required by California Plumbing Code 505.2.

Truth: At one point in time, this was indeed true. The reason was water heaters used to have an open flame, and fumes from gasoline, paint thinner and other flammables found in a garage could potentially come in contact with the open flame. 18 inches was thought to be enough to prevent such fumes that linger near the ground from coming in contact with the open flame. But starting in mid-2003, 50 gallon and smaller water heaters started being made with flammable vapor ignition resistant (FVIR) construction, which eliminated this problem. Water heaters larger than 50 gallons followed soon after. Now it is impossible to buy a water heater that is not FVIR.

Scheduling: Scheduling of Warmzone systems can be more closely controlled, helping to simplify and speed up installations.

This means unless the water heater is located outside, or somehow installed in a manner that a drip won’t cause water damage to the surrounding area, a drip pan is required. And the drainpipe should go somewhere that also will not cause damage to the surrounding area.

Hydronic under floor heating is the most common form of radiant heat, mainly because it has been around the longest, and as such is a proven method for heating homes and businesses. When heating large areas, it is difficult to beat the operating price of a hydronic floor heating system. Warmzone® offers the most advanced hydronic floor heating components, including industry-leading lightweight panels with PEX tubing. Warmzone offers the highest quality, efficient, and easy-to-install hydronic floor heating systems available.

Truth, California Plumbing Code 507.2 Seismic Provisions makes no reference to size. It’s common to hear people say that 75-gallon water heaters need 3 straps or 100-gallon water heaters need 4 straps, but there is no provision in California Plumbing Code that backs up these claims.

Hot water backflow preventer

Superior Design: Warmzone systems deliver a genuine advance in the best hydronic floor heating solutions you can buy.

Further, many manufacturers make expansion tanks specifically for tankless water heaters, such as the ZEP-1 Stainless Steel Thermal Expansion Tank, among others.

Truth: An expansion tank is partially filled with air and is designed to absorb excess water pressure caused by thermal expansion. Remember, when water is heated, it expands. That expanding water needs to go somewhere. In an open plumbing system, the expanding water can push back down the pipe to the city water supply. However, in most Los Angeles area homes, we have a pressure-reducing valve to regulate the water pressure inside a home. Once a pressure valve is installed, the expanding hot water can not simply travel backward into the city line. The valve creates what is known as a closed system.

Warmzone's premier hydronic floor heating systems vary, depending on your needs and preference. Each radiant heat solution offers easy installation, low energy use, and unmatched comfort. Call for more information about Warmzone’s advanced, affordable hydronic floor heating systems (888-488-9276).

In addition, every tankless water heater installation manual I have read so far has said an expansion tank is required on closed plumbing systems.

Truth: The average water heater will last 6 to 12 years. Most water heaters require regular maintenance, even tankless, and the truth is few people ever maintain a water heater, and there is no visible way to tell if a water heater has had regular maintenance. As such, a perfectly good working water heater today may not work tomorrow. At IM Home Inspections, we visually check the water heater, and then we check for hot water at every faucet. But even that can not guarantee a water heater will remain functional.

Truth: A bonding wire, connecting the hot water, cold water, and gas pipes serves two purposes. One, in a water heater, you have the copper that meets the steel fittings on the water heater which are subject to a slight electrical potential, called electrolysis, that can lead to corrosion. A bonding wire allows this faint current between the water pipes to bypass the copper-to-steel fittings and reduce corrosion.

In addition to offering the industry’s most proven electric radiant heat systems, Warmzone also offers the most advanced hydronic floor heating systems on the market. Depending on your needs, Warmzone's hydronic system engineers will custom design the system that best meets your heating demands, layout, floor types, and budget.

Hydronic floor heating systems are versatile and can be installed to heat a variety of different floor types. Because the systems can run on natural gas, the operating costs of hydronic systems can be lower than those of electric systems. But be mindful that the installation is much more complex and more expensive than electric floor heating systems. Generally, for consumers looking to heat a large home, hydronic flooring can be a viable option. However, hydronic systems are generally not recommended for heating smaller homes or to be used to supplement an existing home heating source.

“Where a water heater is located in an attic. in or on an 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 of an inch (20 mm) diameter drain to an approved location.”

More Appealing Option: Many jobs are lost due to resistance to pouring slabs or thin slabs that would not be lost with Warmzone systems.

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Hydronic floor heating systems typically consist of tubing that is directly embedded in concrete, gypcrete, panels, depending on your needs. Warmzone offers some of the most advanced, efficient and easy-to-install hydronic radiant heating systems available. Ideal for new construction and remodeling projects alike, Warmzone’s hydronic floor heating systems offer a low profile, are lightweight, and have a rapid response time. Warmzone systems can even be seamlessly integrated with solar and geothermal systems without the need for additional hardware.

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To learn more about the components and installation of hydronic floor heating systems, call Warmzone and speak with a floor heating expert today at 888-488-9276.

Truth: If a TPR valve were to open and shoot out hot water, a drip pan would not be able to catch and drain the water quickly. Rather, the hot water would just splash out and damage the area around the water heater, making the entire point of a discharge pipe null.

“Discharge pipe shall discharge independently by gravity through an air gap into the drainage system or outside of the building with the end of the pipe not exceeding 2 feet (610 mm) and not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the ground and pointing downwards.”

Small Hydronic Projects: Warmzone systems can be easily installed if needed for small projects, whereas cement and gypsum are impractical and expensive in the same circumstances.