Ask Me Help Desk - Installing water heater pan

I am remodeling a house, and am about ready to install the hot water heater. The water heater will reside in an alcove in my laundry room (no room under the house). Per code, I have to install a pan under it. The alcove is wide enough to have a refrigerator and the water heater side by side... at least that is my hope. The pan that I purchased (and used to determine that the two will fit side by side) is slightly too small for the water heater to fit flat in without catching on the drain fitting (although the pan is a larger diameter than the water heater).

My question is, would it be OK to elevate the water heater in the pan with masonry blocks similar to the way a HVAC air handler is elevated in its pan in an attic? This would allow me to clear the fitting, and not have to buy a larger pan, and probably cause problems with fitting the refrigerator and water heater side by side.

Thanks.

I don't think I fully understand: the fitting protrudes inside about 1/8". If it is still in your way than you bought small pan. Get larger. They make them in 2" increaments, meaning, you will add 1" on each side. I would not put the heater on bricks.

Is your w/h elevated above the floor ? If positive, how much ?

Why would you not recommend setting the w/h on bricks inside the pan? I am fine with that answer, I am just curious. Seems to me that if you do get a leak, then the w/h will be sitting in a pool of water until the leak is discovered and fixed.

My problem is that in order to put the refrigerator and pan side by side in the alcove, I do not have room for a larger pan. The fitting actually protrudes inside the pan at least 3/4" if not more...it is a threaded fitting.

The plan is to set the pan directly on the floor in the laundry room, with the w/h in the pan, although if I catch your hint, maybe I am supposed to elevate it on a platform? I can do that, although it won't solve my horizontal space limitations. If I can set the w/h on some concrete blocks (like maybe the 1-1/2" pavers) then the fitting will protrude under the w/h.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valaury3169

Why would you not recommend setting the w/h on bricks inside the pan? I am fine with that answer, I am just curious. Seems to me that if you do get a leak, then the w/h will be sitting in a pool of water until the leak is discovered and fixed.

The pan should have a drain opening on it.

Quote:

My problem is that in order to put the refrigerator and pan side by side in the alcove, I do not have room for a larger pan. The fitting actually protrudes inside the pan at least 3/4" if not more... it is a threaded fitting.

Right.

The fitting is intended to be used to drain the tank down, as well as to allow the tank to be flushed periodically.

Quote:

The plan is to set the pan directly on the floor in the laundry room, with the w/h in the pan, although if I catch your hint, maybe I am supposed to elevate it on a platform? I can do that, although it won't solve my horizontal space limitations. If I can set the w/h on some concrete blocks (like maybe the 1-1/2" pavers) then the fitting will protrude under the w/h.

If you need to elevate the tank, then use a styrofoam pad to elevate it (unless it is gas fired, of course) -- Styrofoam pads in the correct diameter can be purchased where you bought the pan.