The main reasons why one should be cautious when installing a gas water heater in the attic is because of inadequate attic ventilation with little or no traffic and high or low freezing temperatures.
Why do people put water heaters in the attic.
The gas water heater must get enough fresh air for the proper gas combustion and provide unobstructed and efficient drafting of the products of gas combustion.
Many people wish the water heater was in garage or on the main level some have it this way and love it others don t.
Your attic can easily reach temperatures of 120 140 degrees which is optimum for keeping the water in your tank sufficiently hot without using any energy.
Why is it a problem to have my water heater in the attic.
Quick question answer.
Simply put as long as there is enough combustion air provided tankless water heaters can be installed in any area of your home from a utility room to a garage to yes even an old dusty attic.
It s problematic to have a water heater in your attic because leaks can damage your attic and foster an environment for mold.
Your hvac system will require shorter ducts attic hvac systems also require shorter ducts.
Now a secondary line of reasoning for placing a water heater in the attic is the high temperatures that occur in an attic particularly during the summer months.
Having it installed in the attic ensures that it is 100 percent protected from flooding caused by plumbing leaks and overflows.
Adjusting the temperature is harder.
Why is the water heater in the attic.
Maintenance should be done yearly and is more difficult because going into the attic is cumbersome.