Fourth Street Lofts Web Log

OK, we're off to a bad start with the water heater replacement. After speaking with the nice folks at Home Depot and at the Fast Water Heater Company, it seemed we were all set to go with a replacement this afternoon. I provided all of the necessary measurements as well as my credit card number so that they could charge me $807 for a new water heater and the required permit.

The service man arrived at 1:00 PM and immediately informed me that he could not install my new water heater because doing so would cause a code violation. It seems that the 10" of clearance above my water heater is not sufficient. Codes rewritten since the building was converted to lofts now require 12 inches of clearance above the water heater. Somehow, 10" of clearance was sufficient during my phone call with the plumbing company earlier in the day, but now I was 2 inches short. ARGH!

The installer told me that there is no shorter GAS water heater. There are smaller electric models, but they're less efficient, and the association's architectural committee would not approve conversion to electric water heater.

I called Wayne at Just Water Heaters because my installer told me that they carry the Bradford and White water heater I currently have installed. Wayne confirmed for me the 12" of clearance rule and also that there are no shorter gas water heaters. He recommends I contact Penny at the Oakland Permit Office during business hours at 510-238-3759 or 510-238-6309. Hopefully, I can get an inspector to come out and grant an exception. This seems likely, since there is a fire sprinkler head in the closet where my water heater lives, but I won't know until I spend the $150 to find out.

So, be warned - if you have a short storage space under your loft like we do, there will be complications when you consider replacing your water heater.