How to Earthquake Proof Water Heaters

If you live in an area where there is even a possibility of an earthquake, you need to have your water heater properly fastened. The reason is that if the water heater falls or becomes disconnected, it may create a gas leak. This can increase the danger you and your family are in because of possible fire or explosion after the earthquake.

Things You'll Need

• 2 Tether Straps
• Lag Bolts
• Washers
• Stud Finder
• Drill
• Flexible Gas Pipe
• Pencil
• Water Pump
• Water Hose
• Solder Iron
• Automatic Shut Off Kit (Sensor, Valve, Float)
• Replacement Couplings
• Tubing Cutter
• Wrench

Instructions

How to Earthquake Proof Water Heaters

1. Turn off the gas to the water heater.

2. Locate the two studs in the wall behind the water heater with the stud finder. Mark them.

3. Measure the the height of the water heater. Mark the level that is 1/3 from the top and 1/3 from the bottom. These are the two locations you will need to place your tether straps.

4. Hold the strap at the first stud marking and pull it around the front of the tank to the back where the second stud attachment will be. Cut this giving yourself 2 to 3 inches of extra tether.

5. Cut a second strap to match the first.

6. Bolt the top strap to the first stud and pull the strap taught across the water heater along the top 1/3. Bolt the strap to the second stud. The strap should make a horizontal line parallel to the floor.

7. Repeat Step 5 for the lower 1/3 strap.

8. Replace the gas pipe with the flex pipe if needed. If you already have flex pipe, make sure there is adequate length to move if the water heater should move.

Install a Gas Shut Off Valve

1. Shut the water off to the heater. Disconnect the gas line. The gas should already be off from the previous section. If it isn't, do this now.

2. Drain the water heater. You may do this with a water hose placed into the top of the water heater and an electric water pump to pull the water out.

3. Cut the cold and hot water pipes that lead into the water heater. Use a tubing cutter for this.

4. Disconnect the flue from the heater. Tthis is located at the top and is a vent that sends exhaust gas out.

5. Place a slide catch pan under the heater. Get help to lift the heater if required.

6. Apply pipe dope to threads of gas line and reconnect this. Pipe dope is a sealant to make sure there is no leaking from the joints of the pipe.

7. Reconnect the flue on the top of the water heater.

8. Solder a repair coupling onto the hot-water pipe that allows an overflow pipe to extend down to the catch pan.

9. Solder thread adapters onto the cold-water pipe and the automatic shut-off valve connecting the automatic shut-off to the cold-water pipe.

10. Place the sensor for the shut-off into the valve and the float into the catch pan.

11. Turn on the water and gas.

12. Test the automatic shut-off by pull the float out of the water to make sure the heater automatically shuts off.

References

• North American Earthquake Management; Home Earthquake Information
• This Old House; How to Install a Water Heater Shut-off Valve