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Patrick Da · Guest

I came across this yesterday. Both the water heater and furnace were located in closets in the garage. The furnace closet being on top of the water heater closet. The WH closet had a concrete step in front. (see first image) The furnace sat on a shelf above the WH (see the second image) The height of the shelf was approx. 52" from the floor. To me, this was an odd set up. The other thing that was odd was that the return air went through the WH closet (for some reason that image won't load).

At first I didn't know what or how to write this up. So I looked in the IRC for clearances and also return air specs. Specifically M1305.1.3 Appliances in rooms , and M1602.3 Prohibited Sources #4.Based on what I read I wrote it up as not easily accessible due to the height of the unit and the step in front, and that return air could not go through the WH closet.

Any thoughts or comments?

http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/hwh_02.JPG
http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/hwhac.JPG
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Slainte!

Patrick Dacey
swi@satx.rr.com
TREC # 6636

Bla · Guest

Patrick,

Would there be a difference if the water heater and furnace were located side by side in the closet and the return duct went through? In case of water heater leakage, I wouldn't want to see the it installed above the furnace.

Furnaces hang from ceilings in the garage around here, sometimes 7 or 8 feet off the floor, and they are considered accessible. Attic units are also considered easily accessible.

Those both look like electric appliances from the picture, so there is no combustion air issue. So, being the terrible inspector that I am, I don't see why the return air duct cant pass through the water heater closet.

Both of those appliances look fairly new, so would they have to get past the local county inspector too?

Blaine