Domestic Tank Hot Water Heater Trouble

[ray66v]

Saw a home recently on a slab with the water heater about dead center... the heater was on a pan that drained to a gravel area about 12" square.... looks like someone just cut a hole in the slab and dug it out and then filled with rock.

There is always gavel under a slab. And, depending on how well it was compacted when it was filled, there can be a sizable void over time.

It's a big french drain. And, it can potentially take a lot of water.

A floor drain, or sump, should be near by the water heater, when it's located on a slab, in any case. Not doing so, is poor planning.

 

[tmajor]

What do you folks, who are familiar, think about "tank boosters"? Any better or worse for tanks?

 

[JamesHW]

Why wouldn't a power vented water heater work? 2", 3", or 4" PVC vent pipe out the upper wall of the basement gives you a lot of flexible options. Even the gas furnaces have horizontal PVC vent options.

Yes, that may be the way we go.

 

[KYErik]

Speaking of water heater drain pans and drains, what do you all use to keep outside insects/other critters from coming up the 1" drain line to the pan? Do you put a trap in the drain line?

I had been seeing a few mosquitoes around my water heater and finally figured out that they were flying up the drain pipe from my crawlspace. I placed a piece of toilet paper loosely in the line (figuring it would get soft and fall down the line if there ever was a leak) but I know there must be a better way.

 

[ray66v]

Speaking of water heater drain pans and drains, what do you all use to keep outside insects/other critters from coming up the 1" drain line to the pan? Do you put a trap in the drain line?

I had been seeing a few mosquitoes around my water heater and finally figured out that they were flying up the drain pipe from my crawlspace. I placed a piece of toilet paper loosely in the line (figuring it would get soft and fall down the line if there ever was a leak) but I know there must be a better way.

You could put a trap in the line, and fill it with antifreeze.

You could also, bush the discharge end up to a larger size, and fit a piece of wire screen in it.