Gas Water Heater Repair & Installation in Kennesaw, GA

In many Kennesaw homes the gas water heater sits in the garage, next to the cars, the lawn mower and the storage shelves. A garage location brings its own concerns for gas water heater repair and installation, and Alpha Plumbing and Sewer looks at the surroundings as carefully as the heater: fumes, physical damage, air supply and access.

Fumes and the burner

Gasoline, paint thinners and other solvents give off vapors that are heavier than air and settle near the floor. A gas burner close to the floor is an ignition source, which is why older garage heaters were often raised on a stand. Most residential gas tank heaters made in recent decades use a flammable-vapor-resistant design meant to keep those vapors from igniting outside the combustion chamber, and how a given installation is handled depends on the heater's design and the code the local office enforces. Whatever the heater, the safest habit is simple: keep fuel cans, mowers and solvents well away from it.

Protecting the heater from damage

A heater in the path of a car can be struck, and a bumped gas connector or vent is a serious hazard. Where a heater stands in front of a parking spot, a barrier such as a post or a sturdy curb keeps vehicles from reaching it, and the code the local office enforces may address this. Bikes, ladders and storage bins leaned against the heater can also dent the vent connector or knock the draft hood out of position.

Air, venting and the garage door

Garages usually have plenty of air for combustion, but a heater boxed into a small closet within the garage, or hemmed in by stored items, can still run short. Strong wind through an open garage door can disturb a pilot or the draft at the hood. The vent connector should rise steadily to its chimney or roof termination without dips, and any section passing through the garage ceiling into the attic needs the proper fittings and clearances.

Common garage heater problems

• A pilot that goes out on windy days or whenever the garage door is open.
• Lint, sawdust or leaf debris clogging the air intake at the base.
• Dents in the vent connector, or a draft hood knocked loose.
• A gas connector strained by a heater that has shifted.
• Water from a leaking tank soaking stored items or running under the door into the house.

Garage heaters also lose more heat through the tank jacket in cold weather, so recovery can feel slower in winter.

Replacing a garage heater

When a garage heater is replaced, we look at the whole setup: the floor or stand it sits on, protection from vehicles, the drain pan and where it drains, the relief valve discharge, the gas connection and the vent. A new heater may be taller than the old one, which can change the vent connection. A wall-mounted tankless water heater frees garage floor space, and an electric water heater takes the burner out of the garage altogether; our Georgia water heater overview weighs both against a new gas tank.

Kennesaw permits and inspections

Kennesaw's Building Services Department takes permit applications and schedules inspections online, and it offers a homeowner affidavit for owners who pull their own permits. When a replacement needs a permit, we apply and schedule the inspection.

Garage water heater questions in Kennesaw

Does a garage water heater have to sit on a stand?

Not necessarily. Stands date from heaters whose burners could ignite gasoline vapors lying near the floor. Whether yours needs one depends on its design and the code in force, so we read the label and installation manual and check the requirements before deciding.

Can I store things next to my water heater in the garage?

Keep gasoline, solvents, paint, pool chemicals and lawn equipment well away from it. Even ordinary storage should leave room for air to reach the base of the heater and for someone to get to the gas shutoff, water valves and burner cover. Check the label for the manufacturer's required clearances, and never lean anything against the vent.

Why does my garage water heater struggle in winter?

In a cold garage, the tank loses heat faster through its jacket, the incoming water is colder, and the burner has more work to do for each gallon. The heater may cycle more often and recover more slowly. If the change is dramatic, or the pilot keeps going out in cold, windy weather, have the venting, burner and controls checked.

Planning the garage visit

When the garage heater in your Kennesaw home needs repair or replacement, call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 and mention what is stored around it so we can plan the visit.