7
Installing$the$water$heater$:
This$water$heater$must$be$installed$in$accordance$with$these$instructions,$ local$codes,$utility$company$
requirements$and/or$in$the$absence$of$local$codes,$use$the$latest$edition$ of$the$American$National$Standard/
National$Fuel$Gas$Code.$A$copy$can$be$purchased$from$either$the$American$Gas$Association,$400$North$
Capitol$Street$Northwest,$Washington,$DC$20001$as$ANSI$standard$Z223.1$or$National$Fire$Protection$
Association,$1$Batterymarch$Park,$Quincy,$MA$02269$as$NFPA$54.$In$Canada,$the$latest$edition$of$the$CSA$
B149.1$Natural$Gas$and$Propane$Installation,$and$the$Canadian$Electrical$ Code,$CSA$C22.1$Part$1,$in$the$
absence$of$local$codes.
Location$of$Water$Heater
The$water$heater$should$not$be$located$in$
an$area$where$leakage$of$the$heat$exchanger$
or$connections$will$result$in$damage$to$the$
area$adjacent$to$it$or$to$lower$floors$of$the$
structure.$
When$such$areas$cannot$be$avoided,$it$is$
recommended$that$a$suitable$catch$pan,$
adequately$drained$to$a$safe$location$be$
installed$under$the$water$heater.
A'gas'fired'water'heater'or'any'other'appliance'
should'not'be'installed'in'a'space'where'liquids'
which'give'off'flammable'vapors'are''
to'be'used'or'stored.'Such'liquids'include'
gasoline,'LP'gas'(butane'or'propane),'paint''
or'adhesives'and'their'thinners,'solvents''
or'removers.
Because'of'natural'air'movement'in'a'room'or'
other'enclosed'space,'flammable'vapors'can'be'
carried'some'distance'from'where'their'liquids'
are'being'used'or'stored.'The'open'flame'of'
the'water'heater’s'main'burner'can'ignite'these'
vapors'causing'an'explosion'or'fire'which'
may'result'in'severe'burns,'death'or'property'
damage.
The'water'heater'must'be'located'so'it'is'not'
subject'to'physical'damage,'for'example,'by'
moving'vehicles,'area'flooding,'freezing,'etc.'
If'the'water'heater'is'installed'in'a'garage,'it'
should'be'installed'so'that'the'direct'ignition'
system'and'main'burner'are'no'less'than'18'
inches'(45'cm)'above'the'garage'floor.
Raising'the'gas'fired'water'heater'will'reduce'
BUT'NOT'eliminate'the'possibility'of'lighting'
the'vapor'of'any'flammable'liquids'which'may'
be'improperly'stored'or'accidentally'spilled.
●$$The'water'heater'should'be'installed'as'
close'as'practical'to'the'vent'termination'
to'minimize'vent'length'and'the'number'of'
elbows'required'for'venting.
● $The'water'heater'should'be'installed'with'
the'proper'venting'materials'and'termination'
suitable'for'Category$III'venting'or'Rheem'
approved'venting.
●$'A'fire'stop'plate'should'be'installed'at'every'
penetration'of'a'floor'or'ceiling'if'the'vent'is'
not'running'in'a'fire'rated'shaft.
● $Failure'to'install'and'properly'vent'the'water'
heater'to'the'outdoors'as'outlined''
in'the'Venting'Section'of'this'manual''
can'result'in'unsafe'operation.
●$$Long'hot'water'lines'should'be'insulated'to'
conserve'water'and'energy.'
●$'The'water'heater'and'water'lines'should'
be'protected'from'exposure'to'freezing'
temperatures.
●$$Do$not$install'the'water'heater'in'
bathrooms,'bedrooms,'any'occupied'rooms'
normally'kept'closed,'or'in'outdoor'areas.
●$$Do$not'install'water'heater'where'subject'
to'vibrations.
●$$Do$not'install'the'water'heater'in'
Recreational'Vehicles,'Mobile'Homes,'
Boats'and'other'Watercrafts.
●$$Do$not'install'the'water'heater'near'vents'
for'heating'or'cooling.''A'minimum'of'4'feet'
(1.2'm)'should'be'maintained.
●$'Minimum'water'heater'clearance'from'
combustible'and'nonEcombustible'
construction'is'1/2”'(1.3'cm)'sides,'0”'rear'
(with'support'bracket)m'12”'(30'cm)'from'
the'bottomm'12”'(30'cm)'from'the'front'of'
the'water'heaterm'and'12”'(30'cm)'from'
the'top'(24”'[61'cm]'from'front'and'top'is'
recommended'for'servicing'purposes).'
●$$Maintain'a'minimum'clearance'of'
0”'(0'cm)'around'the'concentric$vent'
pipe'to'combustible'or'nonEcombustible'
construction,'unless'otherwise'specified'
by'vent'manufacturer'or'installed'in'an'
enclosed'space.'If'the'clearances'stated'on'
the'Instruction/Warning'Label,'located'on'
the'front'panel'of'the'heater'differ,'install'
the'water'heater'according''
to'the'clearances'stated'on'the'label.
!WARNING:$
Combustible$construction$
refers$to$adjacent$walls$
and$ceilings$and$should$not$
be$confused$with$
combustible$or$flammable$
products$and$materials.$
Combustible$and/or$
flammable$products$and$
materials$should$never$be$
stored$in$the$vicinity$of$this$
or$any$gas$appliance.
0” (Zero)
(0 cm)
1/2” (min)
(1.3 cm)
1/2” (min)
(1.3 cm)
12” (min)
(30 cm)
(24” (61cm) minimum is
recommended for service)
0” (Zero)
(0 cm)
Minimum'Clearance'from'
Combustible'and''
NonECombustible'
Construction.
'Top'='12"'(30'cm) 'Bottom'='12"'(30'cm)
'Front'='12"'(30'cm) 'Back'='0"*
'Side'='1/2"'(1.3'cm) 'Concentric'Vent'='0"
*''(with'support'bracket)
AP15317 (10_09) DV Gas Manual 10 30 09.indd 7 11/9/2009 3:10:24 PM