HomeProPlumber
This article details the Plumbing Codes for a new water heater installation in Texas. HomeProPlumber provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. We sell & install Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. We are near your home in Plano, Allen, Frisco, and McKinney. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel-charges.
HomeProPlumber in Plano, Texas also provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Call us today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service
Replacement Water Heaters Must Be Installed In Compliance With
Current Texas Plumbing Codes
Image Source: ShutterStock
SHOWN: Electric Water Heater Installation
We Sell & Install Rheem Professional Grade Water Heaters. They Are Identified With The Word “Professional” On The Top Of Tank Label.
If It doesn’t say Professional, It’s Not Professional Grade. Rheem Professional Grade cannot be purchased a Big-Box discount retailers.
Typically a home must be updated to current codes when modifications, major repairs, and replacements occur. Until one of these “inciting” actions occurs, a home is considered legal if it met the building codes in effect at the time it was built. If changes have occurred, they are legal if they met Building Code at the time the changes were completed.
Image Source: ShutterStock
SHOWN: Gas Water Heater Installation
When replacing a water heater in Texas, the installation must be in compliance with all current plumbing codes. This article discusses the most frequently required items to make the new water heater installation legal and code-compliant. We also tell you why each item is required. In nearly every instance, it is to protect home and the occupants safety.
All Water Heater Installations In Texas Require A Plumbing Permit
Since 2007, Texas Requires A Plumbing Permit For A Water Heater Replacement. The permit requires that a licensed plumber install the water heater in compliance with the State of Texas + any Local Municipality Plumbing Codes. The International Building Codes (IBC) form the basis of most of Texas’ codes.
The Permit Requires An Inspection After The Installation To Confirm:
- Water heater was installed properly.
- Water Heater is working correctly & safely.
- No hazards exist.
- There are many things that can go dangerously wrong if an error exists in a water heater installation.
- Click Here to see the 2015 Texas Plumbing Codes: Up.codes 2015 Chapter 5 – Water Heaters Note: The 2018 International Building Codes (IBC) may include updates to what is shown with the link.
Municipality-Specific Plumbing Codes
Garage Installations
Image Source: Pixabay.com
In Addition To Texas Codes, There May Be Additional, Municipality-Specific Water Heater Installation Code Requirements.
Example: For a garage installation, Texas code requires ALL GAS Water Heaters MUST Be 18″ above the garage floor. This is because a gas water heater could become an ignition source for flammable / combustible vapors (such as gasoline) that accumulate near the floor.
An Electric Water Heater MAY be required to be 18″ above the floor in a garage installation (depends on municipality). When an electric water heater starts heating, a spark may occur. The spark could become a source of ignition. Example: Arlington requires an electric water heater be elevated. Plano does not.
Click Here To See An Electric Water Heater Elevated From The Garage Floor: Electric Water Heater Elevated From Garage Floor
Water Heater Closet Installations (inside living space)
Many DFW homes have water heater closets inside the home. There are new Plumbing Codes that require items be added when a replacement water heater is installed (varies by municipality).
- Combustion-Air Source: Water heater closets must now have a direct access to outdoor air for gas combustion. In the past, it was assumed the water heater could draw enough combustion-air from the house. In some cases, the water heater’s up-draft was not strong enough to do that, so the venting of carbon monoxide and other gasses was restricted. This is called “back drafting”. Back drafting occurs when there is not a enough fresh air for both combustion and proper venting. Backdrafting occurs when air is drawn down the flue (for combustion) instead of up the flue (to remove exhaust gases).
- 1 or 2 outside-air vents will be required for a new gas water heater installation in a water heater closet (depends on municipality). The low inlet-vent is to provide fresh air to the burner for combustion. The high inlet-vent is to provide as much air as is needed to ensure the exhaust gasses rise out of the home.
- The water heater’s closet door must be weatherstripped. This ensures that running kitchen & bath fans, clothes dryer, or the fireplace does not pull air from the water heater closet (causing back drafting)
Click Below To See A Photo Of A Correctly Installed Gas Water Heater Inside A Water Heater Closet (inside the home):
Plumbing Code Compliant Gas Water Heater Installation In Water Heater Closet
Click Here To See Plano, TX Water Heater Installation Code Requirements: Plano, TX Water Heater Installation Requirements
An Example Of What Can Go Dangerously Wrong With An Incorrect Water Heater Installation
(Or A Neglected Water Heater)
If a water heater malfunctions and continues to heat, the pressure inside the water storage tank continues to increase until the water heater explodes. To prevent an explosion, the Temperature & Pressure (T&P) Valve will open at a predetermined pressure (150 PSI in most cases) and/or temperature (210F in most cases).
The T&P valve allows overly overly hot and / or overly pressurized water to safely escape from the tank until the temperature and/or pressure drops below the T & P Valve’s pre-set levels. Then the valve recloses.
Click On Image To: View Valve, See Details, Or Buy From Amazon.com. Water Heaters Require Specific T&P Valves. These valves are not “one size fits all”.
Shown: T & P Valve For Water Heater (gas & electric)
NOTE: Older T & P Valves Can Fail Due To Corrosion Or Other Reasons. The T & P Valve Must Be Checked Annually To Ensure It’s Working.
Click On The White Arrow Above To See A Failed T & P Valve
A Home Is Destroyed By A Catastrophic Water Heater Explosion (Due To Failed T&P Valve)
Home’s Water Heater Explodes, Hurtles 135 Yards & Destroys The Home
Click On The White Arrow To See A Home Destroyed When It’s Water Heater Exploded
The Simple Mistake Of Not Discovering A Defective T&P Valve During A Replacement Water
Heater Installation Is A Prime Example Of Why A Plumbing Permit & Inspection Are Required
When the installation is complete, a City Inspector will recheck the installation to ensure it is correct and the water heater is operating properly and safely. A faulty T & P Valve is one of the items that is checked during the inspection.
2018 International Residential Code (IRC) Requirements
The International Building Code (IBC) is adopted (or in use) by all 50 states. With advances in building-materials & building-sciences, Building Codes continue to evolve. The International Code Council (ICC) creates an updated International Building Code (IBC) every 3 years. The current version of the IBC is the 2018 edition, known as ICC IBC-2018. This comprehensive code comprises all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel, gas and electrical requirements.
SOURCE: https://blog.ansi.org/2017/11/2018-international-building-code-icc-ibc/#gref
Click Here To Read The 2018 IBC Codes For Water Heater Installation: IccSafe.org 2018 IBC Code For Water Heater Installation
IBC-2018 Requirements For A Water Heater Installation
GAS WATER HEATER
- The Gas Connector Must Be Accessible. Both gas connector & gas valve cannot be concealed. Most municipalities allows a flexible connector to be installed between the water heater and gas line from the house. Other municipalities may require a a solid (non flexible) gas pipe connection.
Shown: Gas Connector (Flexible Pipe)
Click On Image To: View Valve, See Details, Or Buy From Amazon.com
Click Here To See A Gas Water Heater With Solid Gas Pipe Connection: Water Heater With Solid Gas Pipe Connected
- Gas Valve: Older Gas Valve are often required to be replaced with a Ball-Style gas valve.
- NOTE: Flexible Gas Connectors Are Not Required To Be Bonded. This Is Because They Are Attached To Bonded Gas Lines.
Shown: Ball Valve For Gas Line
Click On Image To: View Valve, See Details, Or Buy From Amazon.com
- Gas Line Sediment Trap. Its purpose is to trap any sediment or moisture within the gas as it flows into the water heater
Shown: Gas Line Sediment Trap In Black (not flexible) Gas Piping.
It forms a “T” with gas coming in one side and existing to the water heater from its center
Click On Image To: View Valve, See Details, Or Buy From Amazon.com
Bonding Of Flexible Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) Gas Lines
International Building Code (IBC) 250.104: Bonding of Piping Systems
Metal Piping, if installed in a building, including gas piping, that is likely to become energized (mostly by a lightning strike) shall be bonded. If lightning strikes the home, the electrical surge flows through the home’s wiring. It then “archs” (jumps through the air) to CSST gas lines. If they are not bonded, the arch causied pin-holes in the line, releasing gas that further fuels the fire.
If the CSST lines are bonded (electrically grounded) — the bonding will take the electrical energy away from the lines, leaving them undamaged.
Click On Image To: View Valve, See Details, Or Buy From Amazon.com
Common Gas Line Pipes Wall Thickness:
- CSST: 0.008″ (3/125th if 1 inch)
- Copper Tubing: 0.04 (1/25th of 1 inch)
- Black Iron Pipe: 0.12 (3/25th of 1 inch)
Image Source: ShutterStock
Electrical Energy From Lightning Strike, or A Damaged Home Electrical Wire Has A History Of Damaging CSST Flexible Gas Lines.
(by creating pin-holes in them) When They Are Not Bonded To Carry Electrical Energy Away.
Building Code Since 2006 Requires These Pipes To Be Attached To The Home’s Electrical Ground To Ensure They Don’t Become Energized Or Damaged By Electrical Energy.
If Your Home’s Flexible, CSST Gas Lines Are Not Bonded (Required In 2006)
Your Safety And Home Are At Risk
Flexible Gas Lines Must Be Bonded To Reduce Risk Of Damage From Lightning Strikes
Bonding Of CSST Gas Lines Became Building Code In Texas
Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video
Click On White Arrow Above To View Video Showing Damaged CSST Gas Lines From A Lightning Strike
Click Here To Read An Article About Bonding Requirements for CSST Flexible Gas Lines: CSST Flexible Gas Lines Must Be Bonded
NOTE: In the article (link just above) Page 2 shows photos of bonding (blue covered) wire connected to the (yellow) CSST gas lines.
What About Existing Homes? Building codes are ‘grandfathered’. This means that, if something was installed to code, it’s still considered code-compliant, even when the codes have changed significantly. If CSST was installed according to code in 2005 or earlier (and the CSST manufacturer did not have special requirements for bonding at that time) the installation still meets code today — that doesn’t mean it’s safe! If something is deemed unsafe due to a change in accepted residential construction standards, Home Inspectors are to report it to their Inspection customer.
If Your Home Was Built Earlier Than 2006, Its CSST Flexible Gas Lines May Not Be Bonded.
Regardless of whether the installation was code-complaint at the time, and is grandfathered, Unbonded CSST Flexible Gas Lines Are Unsafe and make the home vulnerable to fire resulting from a direct lighting strike (and sometimes a nearby lighting strike).
Click Here To See An Image From The “Yellow CSST Safety Campaign”: Yellow CSST Safety Campaign Image
What About The Flexible Gas Line Connecting Gas Equipment To The Home’s Gas Lines?
The Yellow Flexible Pipe That Connects Gas Equipment To The Home’s Gas Lines Does Not Have To Be Bonded When The Home’s Gas Lines Are Bonded.
HomeProPlumber
This article details the Plumbing Codes for a new water heater installation in Texas. HomeProPlumber provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. We sell & install Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. We are near your home in Richardson, Garland, and northeast Dallas, Texas. service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Texas Counties with no additional travel-charges.
HomeProPlumber in Plano, Texas also provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Call us today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service