Can You Move a Water Heater to a Different Location?
Maybe your water heater takes up valuable space in a laundry room. Maybe you’re remodeling and want to move it into the garage, basement, utility room, or another part of the house. In many cases, you can move a water heater to a different location. But it isn’t as simple as draining the tank, carrying it to another room, and extending two water lines.
A water heater depends on plumbing, fuel or electrical service, venting, drainage, and safe access. All of those must work in the proposed location.
Why Would You Move a Water Heater?
Common reasons include:
Remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room
Creating additional storage or living space
Removing a water heater from an attic
Moving equipment out of a finished area
Making the unit easier to access
Converting from a tank to a tankless water heater
Reconfiguring a mechanical or utility room
Replacing two water heaters with a different system
Correcting a poor or unsafe existing location
Relocation can make sense, but the benefit needs to justify the additional work and cost.
Where Can a Water Heater Be Moved?
The best location depends on the type of water heater and the home. Possible locations include:
Garage
Basement
Utility room
Mechanical room
Approved closet
Crawlspace with adequate height and access
Exterior wall for certain outdoor tankless models
Another area designed for plumbing equipment
Not every location is appropriate for every model.
A standard atmospheric gas water heater has different combustion-air and venting requirements from a direct-vent, power-vent, electric, or tankless unit.
Water Piping Has to Reach the New Location
The cold-water supply and hot-water distribution piping must be extended or rerouted. The farther the water heater moves from the fixtures, the longer it may take hot water to reach the faucets. Longer piping also means more water sitting in the line between uses. We consider:
The distance to the main hot-water fixtures
Pipe size
Available routing
Access through walls, ceilings, or floors
Insulation
Whether a recirculation system is present
Whether the move will create excessive wait times
A location that frees up space may be less convenient if it places the water heater far away from every bathroom and kitchen fixture.
Gas Water Heaters Need Fuel and Proper Venting
Moving a gas water heater requires evaluating both the gas supply and the venting. The gas line must be properly sized for the water heater and any other appliances it serves. Extending an existing line doesn’t automatically mean the line can deliver enough gas. The new location must also provide a safe way to vent combustion gases. Depending on the water heater, that may involve:
A chimney or vertical vent
A sidewall vent
Direct-vent piping
Power-vent piping
Adequate combustion air
Proper clearances from openings and other building features
A standard gas water heater can’t simply be placed wherever there is room. Venting and combustion requirements often determine whether the proposed location is practical.
Electric Water Heaters Need the Correct Circuit
An electric tank-style water heater normally requires a properly sized 240-volt circuit. Relocation may require extending or installing:
Electrical wiring
Conduit or cable
A disconnecting means
A junction box
A correctly sized breaker and circuit
A nearby receptacle or general-purpose circuit cannot be substituted for the electrical supply required by the water heater. Electrical work may need to be coordinated with a licensed electrician.
Drainage and Leak Protection Matter
Moving the tank also moves the potential source of a leak. Before placing a water heater in a finished area or above another floor, consider where water would go if the tank, piping, temperature-and-pressure relief valve, or another component leaked. The installation may need:
A properly sized drain pan
A pan drain routed to an appropriate location
A correctly routed relief-valve discharge pipe
A floor drain
A leak detector
An automatic shutoff system
Protection for surrounding floors and walls
A drain pan helps manage minor leaks, but it doesn’t guarantee that a major tank failure won’t cause damage.
The New Location Must Be Accessible
A water heater needs enough room for installation, operation, inspection, repair, and eventual removal. A space may be physically large enough to hold the tank but still lack:
Access to the controls
Room to replace components
Space to remove the water heater
Adequate combustion air
Safe clearances
A practical route for delivery
Access to shutoff valves
Room for an expansion tank and associated piping
It’s worth remembering that the water heater will eventually need to come back out. A remodel shouldn’t permanently trap it behind cabinets, walls, or other equipment.
Is It Worth Moving an Older Water Heater?
Usually, it doesn’t make sense to spend significant money relocating a tank that is already near the end of its expected life. Moving an existing water heater involves draining it, disconnecting it, physically handling it, reinstalling it, and reconnecting all of its systems. The labor and new infrastructure may represent a large part of the overall project cost.
If the water heater is around 10 years old or has corrosion, leaking, or performance problems, installing a new unit in the new location often makes more sense than relocating the old one.
A newer unit in good condition may be worth moving, depending on the model and installation.
Would Tankless Be Better in the New Location?
A tankless water heater can free up floor space, but it still has installation requirements. Depending on the model, it may need:
A larger gas line
Approved venting
A 120-volt receptacle
Condensate drainage
Water-service valves
Freeze protection
Adequate wall space
Clearance from doors, windows, meters, and other openings
Moving to tankless can be a good solution, but it shouldn’t be chosen solely because the equipment is smaller. We size the system according to the home’s demand and evaluate the gas, venting, water, electrical, and location requirements before recommending it.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Water Heater?
There isn’t a standard relocation price because the scope varies considerably. Cost is affected by:
Distance from the original location
Type of water heater
New water piping
Gas-line or electrical work
Venting
Wall, ceiling, or floor access
Drainage
Permits or inspections
Finishing work after the installation
Whether the existing unit is moved or replaced
A simple move within the same utility room is very different from relocating a gas water heater from an upstairs closet to a garage.
Unlike many standard 40- or 50-gallon replacements that we can quote from photos, a relocation may require an on-site evaluation.
Plan the New Location Before Remodeling
If you’re remodeling, involve the plumber before framing walls, installing cabinets, or completing finishes. It is much easier to determine the best piping, venting, drainage, and access while the project is still being planned. Choosing a location based only on where the water heater is least visible can create unnecessary expense or an installation that is difficult to service.
Hot Water Solutions can evaluate the existing system, proposed location, and available replacement options. Call 678-540-6164 if you’re considering moving a water heater or changing systems during a remodel.
We serve Kennesaw, Acworth, Marietta, Woodstock, Canton, Cartersville, Dallas, Hiram, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, and surrounding areas.
Because a cold shower should be by choice.
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FAQ Questions for Rich Results
Can a water heater be moved to another room?
Often, yes. The new location must accommodate the necessary water piping, gas or electrical service, venting, drainage, clearances, and service access.
Can I move my water heater from the attic to the garage?
It may be possible, but the plumbing route, hot-water wait time, gas or electrical supply, venting, drainage, and garage installation requirements must be evaluated.
Is it worth moving an old water heater?
Usually not if the unit is already near the end of its expected life. Installing a new water heater in the proposed location may be a better investment than relocating an older tank.
Can I replace a relocated tank with a tankless water heater?
Possibly. A tankless system must be properly sized and may require gas-line, venting, electrical, condensate-drain, and plumbing changes.
Can a water-heater relocation be quoted from photos?
Photos can help with the initial evaluation, but relocations often require an on-site visit because the plumber needs to inspect the proposed piping, venting, drainage, and utility routes.
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