Securing Your Hot Water Heater

In order to prevent movement of your water heater during an earthquake, you need to secure it to the floor and the wall studs behind it. Movement by the water heater can cause gas or water lines to break, destroying a home that otherwise might have survived the earthquake. Also, ensure that your gas lines to your appliances are of current flexible designs.

MARK THE WALL: Using a felt tip marker, mark the water heater six inches down from the top and four inches above the thermostat control valve. Transfer these marks to the wall behind the water heater.

LOCATE THE STUDS: Locate and mark the studs in the wall behind the water heater, mark studs for 24 inches wider than the water heater. Inexpensive electronic stud finders are available at your local hardware store. Studs are placed 16" apart from center to center.

START SECURING THE TOP STRIP OF PLUMBER'S TAPE: Start at the top of the tank. Identify the furthest stud that you are using and drill a 3/16" pilot hole into it. Use a 5/16" x 2 1/2" lag bolt, with a washer, to secure one end of a strip of plumber's tape to the wall. (Use the metal plumber's tape, do not use the new plastic plumber's tape.)

SECURE THE PLUMBER'S TAPE TO AT LEAST TWO STUDS ON EACH SIDE OF THE TANK: Run the plumber's tape to the next stud and repeat the procedure.

WRAP THE TAPE SO THAT IT COMPLETELY ENCIRCLES THE TANK: Wrap the plumber's tape around the tank. Start in the back and wrap the tape across the back, around to the front and then across the back again. This way the tape will form a loop.

FINISH SECURING THE PLUMBER'S TAPE TO AT LEAST 2 MORE STUDS: Repeat the procedure for securing the tape to the wall stud. Be sure to keep the tape tight with no slack.

REPEAT THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE FOR THE LOWER TANK STRAP: Repeat the entire procedure again at the bottom of the tank.

PLACE A NONFLAMMABLE SPACER BEHIND THE TANK: This will prevent movement toward the wall. Secure the spacer to the wall studs.

FINISH BY SECURING THE LEGS OF THE WATER HEATER TO THE FLOOR: Angle brackets to secure the legs of the water heater to the floor of the water heater to the floor of the water heater location.