To start your Chicago new condo water heater inspection you have to determine what type of a water heater you actually have.
Below are 4 most common types of water heaters installed in Chicago new condos:
- Natural draft, tank type water heater with a metal vent pipe (galvanized steel – no aluminum)
- Power vent / induced draft tank type water heater with a PVC vent pipe
- Electric type water heater
- Tankless type gas water heaters – depending on manufacturer and design it might be plastic or metal vent pipe
Water supply line for your Chicago condo water heater – it must have a shutoff valve so in case your water heater or any hot water line starts leaking, you can turn it OFF.
Main water shutoff (to turn off water for the entire apartment) is usually installed close to the water heater valve. If you can’t see it, ask for it because it might become handy in some situations.
Water heater hot and cold water supply lines in your new condo will be most likely made out of copper (no flexible connectors permitted in Chicago). Because water inlet and outlet of the water heater are galvanized steel, there must be some kind of a separator installed between copper and galvanized – in most cases dielectric union connector (pipe union connector with a plastic insert). Without it, the pipes will eventually corrode and start leaking.
- Check union connections for leaks
- Water heater temperature settings – this is of course totally your choice, but most experts recommend staying below 125°F (48,88°C) – even that temperature could cause second or third degree burns if the child continuously exposes skin to water at that temperature.
1. Chicago inspection of a natural draft, tank type water heater with a metal vent pipe
Check if the water heater metal vent pipe is the same diameter as the draft hood collar diameter (at connection). Some draft hoods are designed for 3″ and 4″, but if it is only 3″ diameter, and 4″ pipe installed – vent pipe requires reducing coupling
Water heater vent pipe should never be downsized!!! If your water heater draft hood was designed for 4″ vent, it cannot be downsized to 3″
- Every single wall vent pipe connection must be secured with 3 sheet metal screws / no tape of any kind
Double wall water heater vent pipes use twist and lock design / no screws on connections.
If your water heater has a single wall vent pipe, it must change to double before wall or ceiling penetration
- Minimum 6” clearance to combustible materials is required for a single wall pipe, never inside the wall or ceiling
Natural draft water heater vent pipe and an induced draft motor equipped furnace vent pipe must be connected together and to the chimney flue with a WYE shaped connector
“T” shaped connector installation poses safety hazard, because furnace induced draft motor could push exhaust gases back into the water heater vent pipe and contaminate your condo.
2. Chicago inspection of a tank type water heater equipped with a power vent / induced draft motor and a PVC vent pipe
All water heater PVC pipe connections must be glued / air tight (with PVC pipe cement / not silicon), secured at power vent with metal clamp on rubber connector (unless differently specified by the manufacturer)
- PVC vent pipe size (2″, 3″ or 4″) – you have to check that in water heater manual, it will depend on the water heater size (how many gallons), BTU input, and vent distance from the water heater connection to the exterior wall termination
- There are louder and quiet water heater power vents but all should be tolerable – if the noise is annoying, there’s usually something wrong with it
Tank type water heater drip pan
Water heater drip pan is required where leakage could cause damage (basically every floor above the basement installation)
- Water heater drip pan must be plumbed to the floor drain or other approved location – check if drain pipe connection to the pan is tight and sealed to prevent leakage
- Any water heater installed in a cabinet, under the counter must have a drip pan
Water heater TPR valve (Temperature Pressure Relief valve)
There must be a safety discharge pipe attached to the TPR valve, same size as the valve discharge end (usually ¾”)
- TPR valve discharge pipe must never be downsized or run uphill
There must be no threads at the pipe discharge end
- Water heater safety valve pipe must be made out of copper, galvanized steel or CPVC (no PVC pipe permitted – temperature rating too low) – there’s usually marking along the pipe wall
TPR valve discharge pipe must terminate within 6” from the floor surface or continue into the floor drain
- No white Teflon tape is permitted on water heater gas pipe connections – small pieces of tape can get shredded during assembly, break off, and flow downstream to block a gas valve. There is a special yellow Teflon tape and compounds / paste available for gas pipe joints.
No flexible gas appliance connectors for water heaters are permitted in Chicago (and Illinois). Peoples Gas allows CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) as a final connector for permanently installed appliances, such as water heater or furnace but I’ve seen only a few in many years.
Water heater gas supply line must have an emergency shutoff valve and so called drip leg
installed to collect moisture from gas lines before it contaminates water heater gas valve (where you adjust temperature)
Extremely important and already covered in a different part of this Chicago condo inspection manual. Don’t miss it – just follow the link to “Water heater combustion air“.
3. Chicago condo electric water heater inspection (tank type)
Water heater Drip pan, TPR valve and discharge pipe requirements are the same.
Electrical conduit should be secured to the water heater with a connector and all wiring concealed inside the water heater connection box / other side of the conduit is usually attached to an electric junction box. There should be no loose conduit, exposed wiring, loose connection box / junction box covers.
- Check electrical panel for a breaker marked “WH” or “water heater – it will look like two single breakers with handles connected together (for 220volts)
4. Chicago condo tankless water heater inspection
If you have a tankless water heater installed in your condo, you will need a manual included with this appliance. There are too many variables involved / different requirements from different manufacturers.
Let me know if you can’t find a manual, maybe I’ll be able to find it for you, and don’t forget to check other posts from my:
