Hot Water Heater In Attic - Thing of the past?

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2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3305289 4-Nov-2024 17:56

Castlvaniafan:

Yea, I'm going with a heat pump one. How loud is your outside unit?

that change the ball game a lot. that really limits the brands you can use. either a slim unit that goes in the ceiling, which will cool the ceiling. or a split type.

otherwise just get an outdoor one. the other factor is how much pipe work would need to be done to relocate it outside.

WWHB

35 posts

Geek

#3305308 4-Nov-2024 20:33

Sigma Sheetmetals can custom make you a new cylinder. I had them make me one last year, I needed to put it in the attic and didn’t have the height so they custom made me one that lay on its side.

Castlvaniafan

97 posts

Master Geek

#3305503 5-Nov-2024 11:52

What do you guys think is the risk level of a hot water heater in an attic in Wellington? Does seem like it would carry some risk. I can't find any formal guidance from the council on what they recommend..

Bung

6477 posts

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#3305526 5-Nov-2024 12:12

Header tanks used to be very common in attics. None that ive seen had anything securing them. I seem to recall an earthquake preparedness brochure showing the tank strapped down with fencing wire (#8).

Wombat1

586 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#3305670 5-Nov-2024 20:05

Outside seems to be the new norm these days.

timmmay

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#3305729 5-Nov-2024 21:04

Castlvaniafan:

What do you guys think is the risk level of a hot water heater in an attic in Wellington? Does seem like it would carry some risk. I can't find any formal guidance from the council on what they recommend..

I did it, after talking to a builder. With good reenforcing and a good drip / leak tray, testing to make sure it actually drains, it's probably going to be ok in everything bar a really huge earthquake. We've not had a problem yet.

Here's how our cylinder is secured. Looking at it in person it looks quite secure, the other side is all 4x2 wood, this side you can see if more open. This more open side has those two metal straps securing it, I wonder if it should have more securing it on that...

Bung

6477 posts

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#3305735 5-Nov-2024 22:04

The Building Code G12 Acceptable Solution strapping example shows top and bottom straps within 100mm of tank ends and a middle strap for tanks >200l. Theres also a Build article pdf discussiing seismic restraint of water storage heaters.

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timmmay

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#3305741 5-Nov-2024 22:30

Bung:
The Building Code G12 Acceptable Solution strapping example shows top and bottom straps within 100mm of tank ends and a middle strap for tanks >200l. Theres also a Build article pdf discussiing seismic restraint of water storage heaters.

Interesting, thanks. It sounds like I need a couple more straps at least.

Bung

6477 posts

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#3305751 5-Nov-2024 23:04

Read the Build article it's easy to find. It covers having straps further from end to avoid tank fittings. What capacity is the tank?

timmmay

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#3305759 6-Nov-2024 06:53

From memory of a decade ago, maybe 240L.

acetone

181 posts

Master Geek

#3305864 6-Nov-2024 11:35

It seems counter intuitive to put a hot water cylinder outside but that does seem to becoming the norm.
Probably a silly question but are the new outside tanks so well insulated and more efficient (Heat pump ones) that you still end up with cheaper running costs vs having it in a warmer place such as the roof space?

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#3305880 6-Nov-2024 12:12

acetone:

It seems counter intuitive to put a hot water cylinder outside but that does seem to becoming the norm.
Probably a silly question but are the new outside tanks so well insulated and more efficient (Heat pump ones) that you still end up with cheaper running costs vs having it in a warmer place such as the roof space?

As someone who has brought a heat pump water cylinder and did some research on, the costs are far lower due to the heat pump itself. In my case I think the power draw is 500 watts, rather than the 2 - 3 kw's of a normal cylinder. The cylinder I have is ONLY for outside installs, so yes becoming the norm. My unit also has a built in timer so I can set it to match my needs for hot water.

Mine is on the south side of the house, I am in Auckland, so not a cold as the bottom of the South Island, and it does get some sun during the day. I will see how it goes over next winter :-)

Plus a bonus is getting back internal space!

timmmay

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#3306197 6-Nov-2024 21:00

Bung:

The Building Code G12 Acceptable Solution strapping example shows top and bottom straps within 100mm of tank ends and a middle strap for tanks >200l. Theres also a Build article pdf discussiing seismic restraint of water storage heaters.

The hot water cylinder definitely isn't fixed in a way that's compliant with current standards. Do you know where to get the galv straps that are 1mm thick 25mm wide? Bunnings has a thinner one, I can't find anything at M10. I did find this one, but it's 10m long and I don't need that much - haven't measured yet but I'd say 5m max.

traderstu

332 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3306216 6-Nov-2024 21:31

Mitre 10 sells a kit

Bung

6477 posts

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#3306217 6-Nov-2024 21:34

Both M10 and Bunnings should have SimpleFix Cylinder Restraint Kits with 2 or 3 straps. Not 25mm x 1mm but 25mm x 0.75 high tensile strap. Approx $40 for all the bits for 2 straps. Id put it at the end of your list of things to do.

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