August 18, 2008
Tankless Water Heater
I have this installation pictured below of a tankless water heater. It’s a Rinnai Model R75-LSe. The manufacturers installation instructions say. “Heat trace ALL water pipe and fittings located outside home (attic, crawl space) or building structure.”
Has anybody else seen pipes left exposed like this ? I think this is wrong. Does everybody else agree ?
Exterior Tankless Water Heater Pipe Insualltion
By the way, I will have to find a gas line bond somewhere in the house.
Filed under Discussion Topic, Plumbing, Tankless Water Heaters by .
Comments on Tankless Water Heater
11:46 am
Whether “heat traced” or not, it looks like the pipes are going to freeze with a power loss.
1:25 pm
According to the Mfg. instructions, the pipes can be exposed. I would be
concerned with freezing – we do get a week or two in the winter. I would protect both the cold and hot water lines from temperatures and damage. The gas line looks as if they used a flex connector. I don’t think a connector has to be bonded. I would look at the installation of the entire cabinet to make sure there is the proper electrical bond, the gas line should be automatically bonded through that. I have a Rinnai tankless in my home, mounted in my garage. Works very well. I have it connected to a dedicated appliance receptacle, breaker is only 6 feet away in the panel box. Don’t you need a disconnect near this unit outside????
6:23 pm
I agree that the pipes may freeze in our north georgia winters. I would request that the builder add some pipe wrap type insulation, regardless of manufactures instructions. I believe an electrical disconnect, if not easily accessable inside the cabinet, should be located on the wall outside.
11:07 am
The gas flex connector is not approved for a wall penetration and the TPR valve discharge point may cause injury to persons or damage the building.
Where do you start on this list?
11:24 am
It is not a gas connector. It’s either tracpipe or gas-tite. I can’t remember. I will also need to see where the gas lines are bonded. I hope Rinnai emails me or puts a post up here.
If I remember the TPR should end at less than 6 inches from the ground. I know the Universal Plumbing Code, International Plumbing Code and the IRC all differ slightly on the terimiation point of the TPR.