Answer: | FALSE - Only water heaters that are installed above the ground level are required to have a drip pan, and an exterior drain line. FURTHERMORE, the size of the pan must be sufficient to collect water. I have seen some new construction applications where the water heater tank barely fits into the pan and blocks the drain line, I've also seen new construction pans which have been cracked - rendering the pan useless. During inspections, I always check for a pan, but personally I never considered the precise placement the pan a "big deal"....until a few months ago, when I received a frantic call from a new home buyer, whose home was flooded because the pan was improperly positioned and failed to collect water from a leak that had developed and flooded the lower level of the home. The building requirements are designed to protect life and property - and this has taught me that, even if I have never seen a failure - they do happen and even something this minor is IMPORTANT!! |
