Water heater in closet with no door in Kentucky?

Question

Our natural gas water heater and furnace are in a closet with louvered bifold doors. The louvers are only on the top halves of the doors. Our plumber said it's a code violation because the water heater needs combustion air from both the top and bottom of the doors. Can we resolve this code violation by removing the doors? Or would that be another code violation?

Answer 1

Kentucky rules I don't know ~ but you would want to have louvers on the bottom as well as the top for best operating costs and the most efficient water heater and furnace.  I would not take the doors off for too long.  It is best if both are protected by fully louvered doors.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about the louvers on the bottom, but to expose the entire furnace, because it's propane or nat-gas, would probably be a bigger violation. To expose an appliance that gets hot to the house population, such as kids would definately be a no no. If you can't find that size louver door, home depot sells a louvered frame kit, simply measure the size that would fit, cut out the square size required and insert the louvered frame kit and s***w it to the existing door. It's pretty easy, I just did one on my boss's house, the cost was about $35.00.( to install, simply draw the square or rectangle on the lower half of the door, drill a 3/8 hole in the four corners, and cut out the shape with a jig saw, pop the louvered kit in and s***w the screws in with a phillips s***w driver, done! Have a good day, John P.

Answer 3

I'm not sure if thats a code violation but your plumber is an idiot all you have to do is cut in some louvered vents in the bottom of this closet one 6"x12" should do it

Answer 4

to answer your question no its not a violation to remove the door. in fact if you were here in new york and i inspected it for you i would have  removed it for you. your plumber is 100 percent right by following the nfpa 54 book. that code book which by the way is NATIONAL which was designed for a reason. that book is there for your saftey. now a code enforcement officer may use his authority of jurisdiction and override some parts but i have been in this business a long time and have never seen one bypass the combustion air section.. .  to figure out b.t.u load for any room would be lenght x width x height x 20. thinking a code wasnt practical would be like drinken a case a beer and tellen the cop who pulled you over- naw im thinken that dwi stop was impractical

Answer 5

From a practical standpoint the water heater and furnace will still get the air they need.  In reality most places do not have the required amount of free air space as defined in the National Fuel Gas Code.  If the code official are not lenient, perhaps you could replace the doors you have with a full louvered bi fold.

Answer 6

Code is a four letter word!!

Ask your local code enforcement officer. Only his opinion counts.

Only his interpretation of the code is important.