Water Heater Replacement rules

Water Heater Replacement rules

Real Estate Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 49 votes

Anybody know the rules for replacing water heaters these days?
Had a company that AHS sent over last year that replaced a heater, no issues.

Different tech this year, same subdivision, different property, same setup (no pressure reducing valves and no pressure tank), and tech claims it needs "Sediment trap, expansion tank, T&P modifications, and permit", essentially more than what AHS says the new tank itself is worth.

Figured I'd ask here if anybody knows the exact regulations, because the tech seems not to want to explain anything other than "We can't tell you by law, only American Homeshield can, we've told them what it needs". AHS says "They told us what it needs, we don't know what the rules are, we rely on the contractor for that".

When I mentioned the other property (before realizing it was the same company) had an issue last year and no fuss about an expansion tank or T&P or anything extra, he said "They probably did it illegally then". I didn't realize until after that the SAME company went out for the other property.

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  • Broker/Investor · Georgetown, TX · Member since 2011 · 249 posts · 146 votes
    9y

    Interesting thread. I'm not sure what the code is for replacing water heaters, but a friend who is an insurance agent told me that an improperly/illegally installed unit can result in any damage claim not being covered. The bureaucracy and regulation investors face is endless and expensive.

  • Real Estate Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 49 votes
    9y

    Well that's just it. It was the company this tech works for that installed the one at the other property, under an American Homeshield policy as well.

    I'm pretty sure he's just trying to make whatever extra he can because the only code part that I saw is that requires a pressure reducing valve if incoming pressure is 80psi, and if that's the case then requires a pressure expansion tank for the water heater.  This property has neither 80+psi pressure nor a reducing valve.

  • Real Estate Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 49 votes
    9y

    Anybody have any experience with this?

  • Rental Property Investor · Cedar Park, TX · Member since 2014 · 415 posts · 272 votes
    9y

    Call the local city building permit office and just ask for an inspector who can answer a code question.

    An expansion tank probably is required. Maybe you have one already. They can be repressurized unless the bladder inside has failed.

  • Real Estate Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 49 votes
    9y

    Good idea, going to do that tomorrow. No pressure tank, and house was built in 2001.

    My reading of the code seems to indicate that a pressure tank IS required IF:

    1) If there is a pressure regulator/pressure reducer at the property

    2) A pressure reducer is only required if incoming street pressure is 80psi, in which case pressure reducer and check valve are required, and results in pressure tank being required.

    If a reducer isn't required, either should be a pressure tank. Just my reading of it.

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