Photo source: www.ertops2021.com
Will your water heater pass the next inspection? Here’s how Menzies’ water heater pans will make sure you do.
Water heaters are steel tanks that rust over time. Despite having a protective anode rod, the tank will eventually get little pinholes and leak.
Water heaters can also leak from threaded connections, such as at the temperature/pressure relief valve.
Photo source: www.reddit.com/r/fixit
The worst case is that your water heater tank ruptures and pours gallons of water onto the surrounding area. If your tank is placed on a wood floor or is adjacent to drywall, that’s a huge problem.
Even tiny leaks, when undetected, can damage your floor or wall so badly that when you find out about it, it’s too late. You’ll be left with no choice but to replace your water heater and make expensive repairs due to water damage.
Meanwhile, having a water heater pan installed can save you money. When your water heater is placed on a water heater drain pan, the pan contains any leaks when they do happen.
You’ll know when you need to repair or replace your water heater without having to replace the floor or wall at the same time.
Are Water Heater Pans Required by Code?
While water heater drain pans typically aren’t mandatory in most local building codes, we strongly suggest you have them since inspectors will look for them anyway. They’ll fail you immediately if you don’t have it – that’s just how it goes.
For minimal investment and risk, you’ll save money and comply with inspections as the years go by. And to make the most of your investment, you can trust Menzies.
Water Heater Drain Pans by Menzies
Here at Menzies Metal, we have two types of water heater drain pans to choose from.
Our “Low Lip” Water Heater Drain Pan
The first type is our Hot Water Pan – Low Lip, with its 1-⅛” (29mm) lip height. It comes in three sizes: 22” (559mm), 24” (610mm), and 26” (660mm) diameter.
Each size variation has three subtypes: No hole, bottom hole, and bottom tail (with an attached tailpiece).
- The “No hole” variation is for custom applications where the drainage hole location may be variable.
- The “Bottom hole” variation is for applications where the drainage line is below the water heater pan but doesn’t require drain fittings. Such a setup is suitable when your water heater is placed on a stand, but the floor is concrete (or some other material that won’t be damaged by water).
- The “Bottom tail” variation (shown below) is for instances where the drainage line needs a fixed PVC pipe connection.
Our “High Lip” Drain Pan
The second type is our Hot Water Pan – High Lip. Its lip is 2” (51mm) high, which allows for two additional subtypes (side hole and side tailpiece) and one additional size: 28” (711mm).
- The “Side hole” variation allows water to run off the side of the water heater pan (as opposed to the bottom).
- The “Side tailpiece” variation (shown below) is for applications requiring drain fittings off the pan’s side.
Both of Menzies’ drain pan types are made of galvanized iron, so they can be easily soldered when necessary.
Custom sizes and shapes are also available upon request, including square/rectangular Low Lip drain pans up to 26” (660mm) in length.
NOTE: While there are cheaper water heater drain pans made of plastic or other materials out there, they are inadvisable, especially if your water heater is gas-fired. The gas flame will melt the plastic. For best results, always install a metal water heater drain pan.
Trust Menzies for Your Drainage, Plumbing, and Flashing Supply Needs
Whether you need water heater drain pans, drains, flashings, or vents for your project, you can trust Menzies.
Having worked with building organizations for more than 45 years, we have developed sturdy, easy to install, and long-lasting products.
Looking for something else besides water heater pans? Check out our extensive catalog of plumbing, flashing, and HVAC products here.
