Do the water lines to a water heater have to be vertical?

I'm thinking of installing an electric water heater so that the flexible connector lines curve toward the side of the closet, where the CPVC water lines would be. That would let me put a small storage shelf above the water heater.

Is this a bad idea?

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2263/waterheaterplumbinget1.th.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterheaterplumbinget1.jpg)http://img114.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Thanks for you help!

NOPE... No problem with having horizontal pipes.

MARK

Marks right on here, pretty much do whatever you feel like doing but avoid 90 elbows next to the tank.

That's great. Thanks!

I assume it also okay to store things above an electric heater?

YUP!. just maintain a common sense distance from the electrical!!

I would probably store above a heater but have you checked your local building inspectors thinking. Some chemicals, wall material and household products should not be in the same room as a heater.

We're probably okay. I'll just be storing lightbulbs and similar things there. Yeah, cleaning chemicals is probably a bad idea.

Thanks!