I just bought a house that has a hot water heater with copper lines, but there's no pan underneath it. The heater is about six years old and since I'm going away for school and will be renting out the house, I'm really worried about potential leaks. The heater is sitting on a floating floor above a crawl space, so any leaks could cause serious damage. Since I can't put a pan under it, I'm looking for suggestions on what I can do to prevent problems. I was thinking about getting an audible leak detector alarm and maybe connecting a hose from the drain valve to the sump pit, so if the alarm goes off, the tenant could drain it before things get too messy. But I'm open to other ideas since this doesn't feel like a foolproof plan.
3 Answers
You could try a more creative solution. One idea is to cut a plastic pan into pieces and fit them around the heater, sealing the edges with some caulk. This should handle most leaks coming from the sides or pipes, as long as you have a drain hose set up. Just keep in mind, it won't catch any leaks that happen from the bottom of the heater, but it might work as a temporary fix.
How long are you planning to be away? I definitely wouldn't put the responsibility on your tenant to manage draining the tank. It's better to bring in a professional who can do a thorough job and ensure everything is safe and sound.
If you're worried about leaks, it might be worth hiring someone to install a proper pan and drain line if you're unable to do it yourself. This way, you’ll have peace of mind while you’re away. It's really important to handle these things correctly instead of leaving it to chance, especially with a rental property.
I actually think this could be a clever workaround!