shed for water heater?
I am currently trying to remodel an old laundry room into a bathroom, and the 40gal. gas tank water heater needs to be moved outside into a shed. Are there any sheds sold for this particular purpose? Some helpers from Home Depot recommended a rubber-made shed instead of a metal shed. They insisted that metal sheds have too much condensation inside when the temperature changes that will hurt the water heater. However, others have said that metal sheds are the way to go. I am also wondering if the rubber-made plastic would melt from the heat. Please help me!!!! Am at a loss as to hearing of a water heater shed but whatever you have will have to be insulated....depending on your winter temperatures.Don't really think a rubbermaid shed would melt but proper insulation would prevent excessive condensation in a metal shed. Guessing that cost is a factor here. Go for the one that is easier on your wallet as long as it will allow for temperatures in your area without adverse effects. You have cold and hot water lines to consider so go from there. Good luck and post back to let us know how it went. Our water heater is outdoors in a metal enclosure made specifically for this purpose. It is an Aquahut Water Heater Enclosure, as stated on the label. It is insulated, as you might expect; and shows no evidence of condensation inside. Snow will sit right on the top of it. Think about how warm it stays inside the enclosure, before giving much credence to the helpers' concerns about condensation. Hello: Meccle2 A non metal water heater enclosure is designed for that specific purpose. Normally operating water heaters do not produce near enough radiant heat to be of any concern. The tanks are well insulated to protect against heat loss. If they where not insulated the heat loss would cause the burner to never turn off and the amount of hot water available to be very limited. The air space around the enclosure is also determined to be correct for the tank size it covers. As well as the vents built into the enclosure, etc. Which is exactly why installing a pre-made water heater cover enclosure, installed per instructions meets all the codes and works correctly as designed. No known logical reason why condensation should be of any concerns. Not enough heat inside the shed to create moisture or condensation. Sounds like a sales pitch from those whom do not know or care to learn. They just sell. Several important installation considerations to meet. Install the tank level on a cement pad, if possible. Pre made pads are also available but must be level. Install the flue venting system to code. Be sure the downdraft divertor is crrectly placed on the tank and venting pipe inside the shed is installed per instruction. Also the exterior venting flue pipe is secured and above the roof line. Vent pipe has a proper vent cap installed correctly and all exactly to local code. Be surprised how many tank installations are not installed correctly. Most commonly the venting systems and more likely the vent cap on the flue pipe. Usually vent cap found smashed so far down onto the flue pipe it blocks the entire system, causing flue exhaust and gases to spill out of the divertor. Second most common incorrect installation is a flue pipe not extended above the roof line or not far enough above roofline to provide proper drafting, etc. Third most commonly found incorrect installation, usually after a tank replacement, incorrectly installed or missing downdfrat divertor. A must have part, installed correctly, to insure proper operation and venting. My Ten Cents Depending upon your locale, I would insulate the shed, all pipes, and the water heater itself. And put in a heat lamp or some other source of heat during extremely cold weather. Good Luck! Mike For sure a heat lamp of some kind there to make up for the out side vents you have to have for that gas burner. Also dont forget that the vent pipe out has to be a B gas vent pipe. ED Thank you so much for all the helpful information. For those of you who have an enclosure designed for a hot water heater, do you know where I could find one? Everyone at Home Depot and Lowe's are clueless. Ours is from Adams Heating and Air Conditioning 600 Morris Street Charlotte, NC 28202 Model AH 40 for gas water heater. I have no idea how old it is. I was here when we bought the house in November 2000. Hope this helps.
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