Installing a new water heater over a porcelain tile floor

Posted by Ray K on April 27, 2009, 6:01 pm

Should I put a piece of plywood (or something with a little "give")
under the new heater? My concern is that if I don't install the four
12x12" tiles under the heater so they are all the same height, the
weight of the filled 50-gallon heater might crack the highest tile. My
thought is to distribute the weight of the heater more evenly.

I'm not sure if a drip pan is a solution.

Thanks for your advice.

Ray

Posted by ransley on April 27, 2009, 6:46 pm

> Should I put a piece of plywood (or something with a little "give")
> under the new heater? My concern is that if I don't install the four
> 12x12" tiles under the heater so they are all the same height, the
> weight of the filled 50-gallon heater might crack the highest tile. My
> thought is to distribute the weight of the heater more evenly.
> I'm not sure if a drip pan is a solution.
> Thanks for your advice.
> Ray

Dont forget a plastic drain tray with hose leading to a drain, save
headaches when it fails, extra wood cant hurt.

Posted by Ray K on April 27, 2009, 7:26 pm

ransley wrote:

>> Should I put a piece of plywood (or something with a little "give")
>> under the new heater? My concern is that if I don't install the four
>> 12x12" tiles under the heater so they are all the same height, the
>> weight of the filled 50-gallon heater might crack the highest tile. My
>> thought is to distribute the weight of the heater more evenly.
>> I'm not sure if a drip pan is a solution.
>> Thanks for your advice.
>> Ray

>
> Dont forget a plastic drain tray with hose leading to a drain, save
> headaches when it fails, extra wood cant hurt.

I should have mentioned that the tile will be installed over a concrete
slab at ground level. So there is no springiness under the tiles.
Unfortunately, there also isn't any floor drain, so all a drain tray
could do is keep small amounts of water from directly falling on the
floor, and with luck I'll notice the water as I pass the heater with
every trip to the garage.

The heater will be new, so I don't really expect any problems for at
least 10 years. The present Kenmore heater is 20 years old; still no
problems, but why take a chance.

Posted by Tony Hwang on April 28, 2009, 9:43 pm

ransley wrote:

>
> Dont forget a plastic drain tray with hose leading to a drain, save
> headaches when it fails, extra wood cant hurt.

Hmmm,
Since tank is not moving around, I'd put 3 hockey pucks under each leg.

Posted by on April 28, 2009, 10:04 pm

wrote:

>ransley wrote:

>>> Should I put a piece of plywood (or something with a little "give")
>>> under the new heater? My concern is that if I don't install the four
>>> 12x12" tiles under the heater so they are all the same height, the
>>> weight of the filled 50-gallon heater might crack the highest tile. My
>>> thought is to distribute the weight of the heater more evenly.
>>> I'm not sure if a drip pan is a solution.
>>> Thanks for your advice.
>>> Ray

>>
>> Dont forget a plastic drain tray with hose leading to a drain, save
>> headaches when it fails, extra wood cant hurt.

>Hmmm,
>Since tank is not moving around, I'd put 3 hockey pucks under each leg.

3 under EACH? Kinda high and rocky, I'd think one under each would do
the job just fine.

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