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Here’s our water heater closet dimensions guide including different electric and gas water heater tank sizes and the clearance space needed around a water heater.
Gas Water Heater Closet Dimensions
The closet or enclosure space needed for a gas water heater will depend on how much water capacity your gas water tank has.
Some gas-powered water tanks can hold water as little as 30 gallons, while some can contain up to 95 gallons; ultimately, measuring will be required before deciding on the enclosure size.
Clearance Around Gas Water Heater
Electric Water Heater Closet Dimensions
Just like a gas-powered water tank, the enclosure space needed for an electric water heater is dependent on the exact capacity size of your electric-powered water tank.
Clearance Around Electric Water Heater
On the other hand, unlike gas-powered water tanks that need venting, electric water tanks do not require even a minimal clearance space. This is because they do not release exhaust, unlike their gas-powered counterparts.
What Are The Dimensions Of Water Heaters?
The ideal water for your home will depend on two factors. The first is what source of energy your tank will utilize, whether electricity or fuel, and the second is the size of the water heater, which will depend entirely on how many people live in a home or a building.
Let’s tackle electric types of water heaters first. If you have a couple of people living in a given household, a 30-gallon water heater will be perfect for them.
A 30-gallon water heater usually has a dimension of 49.5 inches or 126 centimeters in height, a diameter of 22 inches or 56 centimeters, and a weight of 75 pounds or 34 kilograms.
For a household with 4 and more persons, an 85-gallon electric water heater will be ideal for them. Such a water tank usually measures 70 inches or 178 centimeters for the height with a diameter of 28 inches or 71 centimeters. These water heaters will usually weigh 134 pounds or 61 kilograms.
If you opt to use gas water heaters for your home, many sizes are available to choose from. For medium-sized households, there is a water heater with a 50-gallon capacity. They measure 51 inches or 130 centimeters in height, a diameter of 24 inches or 61 centimeters, and weighing at least 160 pounds or 73 kilograms.
For a 75-gallon capacity water heater, they measure to have a height of 60 inches or 153 centimeters, a diameter of 26 inches or 66 centimeters with a weight of 320 pounds or 145 kilograms.
On the other hand, a bigger 98-gallon capacity water heater measures 64 inches or 163 centimeters in height with a diameter of 27 inches or 69 centimeters and a weight of 350 pounds or 159 kilograms.
Can A Water Heater Be In An Enclosed Space?
To answer the question, yes, you can place or store a water heater in an enclosed space; however, there are factors to consider. These factors will depend on different state codes and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Overall, most water heating system manufacturers recommend that your heater’s enclosed space have at least an inch or 3 centimeters allowance on all sides. However, there are problems regarding this measurement since it won’t allow for much room to work, especially for tubes and also drip pan space on the bottom.
Another consideration is that clearances are surrounded by fire retardant wallboard to be compliant with national building codes.
How Big Does A Hot Water Heater Closet Need to Be?
The ideal enclosure or closet for your water heater, whether electric or gas-powered, will depend on its size. However, there are specific and exact measurements and considerations that are there as a guide to making or having your water heater closet made.
The first requirement is that the doors should be double doors, so it is easier to access and be placed in and out of its home for replacement or repairs. It is also a building required to keep the doors of this closet closed at all times.
Can I Build A Closet Around My Water Heater?
For instance, if you want to cover your water tank, especially for a basement, with a different purpose other than storage, the best way to conceal the view of your giant water tank is by building a shell or a closet around it. This is also the solution if your water tank has a bigger capacity and is thus more extensive in build.
Once you have decided to build a closet around your water tank, it’s time to plan the enclosure. One major thing you must remember is leaving enough buffer space of at least 6 inches or 15 centimeters from the wall to the back of your tank. This is to ensure that there will be enough space for the repairman to repair your water tank in any case of malfunction.
Another thing is opting for double doors instead of a single door that only opens on one side. This double door will provide the space your water heater needs to be maneuvered in and out of the tank on replacement and repairs.
For a gas-powered water heater, more space will be required to give the tank enough room to breathe to burn effectively.
How High Does A Water Heater Have To Be Off the Ground?
Aside from the space allowance on the sides and front and back of the closet, a water tank, especially gas-powered, would require at least 18 inches or 46 centimeters of space above the ground. What you can do to achieve this is to buy a water heater stand or have it made custom, especially if you have a bigger tank.
Remember that these 18 inches or 46 centimeters do not start on the bottom of the water tank. But instead, this space clearance begins on the pilot light or any lighting mechanism on the bottom part of your water tank.
You might wonder why this space is necessary, and contrary to the popular belief that it is there to avoid impact and bumps, the water space clearance is there for fire and explosion prevention. Accidents brought about by gas spills.
If you own an electric-powered water tank, this space requirement may not be needed. However, read the manufacturer’s recommendation just to be sure.
Does Electric Water Heater Closet Need To Be Vented?
According to the building code, this airflow should be specific according to what the water heater brand will be advising its users.
However, the safe bet is allowing for 12 inches or 30 centimeters of space both at the top of the enclosure and on the bottom considering the 18 inches or 46 centimeters for the water heater stand.
How Do You Strap A Water Heater In A Closet?
Another way to ensure that your water heater is secure is by strapping it using commercially made kits that make the process accessible for everyone. If you want to do it by yourself using materials from scratch, all you will be needing are 3-inch lag screws and heavy-gauge metal straps.
The first thing you need to do is strap the tank on the wall by wrapping a strap on the tank and strapping the metal belt on the wooden block placed between the wall and the tank by wall studs or lag screws.
If you are strapping it without the wood in between and straight to the concrete, then using expansion bolts that are a quarter-inch is ideal.
Visit our guide on tankless water heater pros and cons for more related content.
