Water Heater Pan Question

[James L. Keilson]

If a water heater is in a house that is a slab foundation and the tank is in the finished basement in an under the stairs utility closet and has no pan do you call it out and needing a pan ?

Thanks

Jim

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jkeilson

If a water heater is in a house that is a slab foundation and the tank is in the finished basement in an under the stairs utility closet and has no pan do you call it out and needing a pan ?

Thanks

Jim

Contradictory statement. A basement home is not a slab home. But, that is not to say a basement does not utilize a slab floor.

If a water heater is installed over a finished space a pan should be installed.

If a water heater is installed within a finished space (ie... finished basement) and there is no drain closeby, I recommend a pan be installed.

Keep in mind, a pan will never contain the volume of water in the tank. It is primarily to contain small leaks, ie... drips, seepage, etc... until repairs can be performed.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Good answer Jeff, I picked up on the contradictory statement also.

[James L. Keilson]

alright alright I picked up on it also.... I just am used to referring to the bottom level of a 3 story townhouse as the basement level.

Jim

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jkeilson

alright alright I picked up on it also.... I just am used to referring to the bottom level of a 3 story townhouse as the basement level.

Jim

Jim,
That statement is even more disturbing! Are you saying that the 3-story townhouse is on a slab foundation? Is that common there?

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Common here too Jeff for Condos.
Jim, I had a duplex on a slab up in Norther Maine in the 70's, and a drip pan should be installed. 20/20 is hindsight now, but I would always recommend a floor drain when it is constructed.

[James L. Keilson]

Yeah tons of townhouses are just slabs and 2 and 3 levels built on them. Very common for townhouses here.

Jim

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Wow... guess it makes a difference with a 48" hard frost line vs. your ???

[James L. Keilson]

Thanks Marcel, I always do I just wanted to get some other opinions, because this one inspaction I just did this past Sunday the sellers agent told the buyers agent who told me I was wrong ? Just because I recommended having a pan put under the water heater as the rest of that bottom floor is very nice and new carpet and tha old owner even said it has leaked before? I told both agents they should tell the new owner they will pay for the new carpets, and mold remediation if the water heater ever leaks. I did my job.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

You did Jim, and I always would say the same thing in that type of circumtance.
The least they could do for a poor design is pay for the carpet if something goes wrong.

[James L. Keilson]

Originally Posted by jjonas

Jim,
That statement is even more disturbing! Are you saying that the 3-story townhouse is on a slab foundation? Is that common there?

This style is very common around here

http://www.trulia.com/property/30433...llage-MD-20886

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Nice apartment, condo or whatever. Not enough cabinet space, they have to hang the pots and pans.

I did not see any receptacles in any of the pics.
How about pans for the washers on the upper levels and is the spacing of those ballusters exeed 4"?
I know, I ask too many questions.

[James L. Keilson]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Nice apartment, condo or whatever. Not enough cabinet space, they have to hang the pots and pans.

I did not see any receptacles in any of the pics.
How about pans for the washers on the upper levels and is the spacing of those ballusters exeed 4"?
I know, I ask too many questions.

HAHA..good eye, that was just the listing, not my report, For a clean looking house I found a boatload of things to call out. But those style homes sure beat a nasty crawl space any day.

Jim

[Charley L. Bottger]

Not trying to piss in anyone's post toasties but answer me this if the water heater is installed in a basement under the stairs what good does a pan do if there is no place for the pan to drain into such as a floor drain the pan fills up and ruins the carpet anyway. Just saying

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Not trying to piss in anyone's post toasties but answer me this if the water heater is installed in a basement under the stairs what good does a pan do if there is no place for the pan to drain into such as a floor drain the pan fills up and ruins the carpet anyway. Just saying

Perfectly correct Charlie.
What percentage of the leaks are slow drips from faulty TPR valves in your opinion ?