Project 1: Strapping your water heater

Click on diagram for a detailed drawing

1. Strapping your water heater and making sure it is fitted with a flexible gas supply line will greatly reduce the danger of fire or explosion from a gas leak after an earthquake. If your water heater does not have a flexible gas supply line, contact a licensed plumber to install one. These guidelines are for a 30- to 40-gallon water heater within 12 inches of a stud wall.
2. Mark the water heater at a point 6 inches down from the top and about 18 inches up from the bottom. Transfer these marks to the wall. Locate the studs in the wall on both sides of the water heater.
3. Drill a 3/16 inch hole 3 inches deep through the wall sheathing and into the center of the wood studs at the four marks made in step 2.
4. Measure around the water heater and add 3 inches to the measurement. Using a hacksaw, cut the two 1-1/2 x 16-inch gauge metal straps to this length so that they can encompass the water heater.
5. Mark 1-1/2 inches from each end and bend the ends outward to about a right angle. Bend the straps into a curve.
6. Measure the distance from a point midway on each side of the water heater to the holes drilled in the wall. (This will probably be two different lengths.) Add 3 inches to these measurements. Using a hacksaw, cut two pieces of tubing to each of these two lengths.
7. Flatten approximately 1-1/2 inches at each end of the four pieces of tubing by laying the tube on a flat metal or concrete surface and striking it with a hammer. Be sure you flatten both ends on the same plane.
8. Insert the flattened ends of the tubes, one at a time, into a vise or clamp. With a hammer and a center punch make a mark 3/4 inch from each end at the center of the flattened area of the tube. Drill 3/8 inch holes in the ends of all four tubes (eight holes). Be sure that the tubes are clamped down while you are drilling. Bend each end to about 45 degrees.
9. Wrap the straps around the heater and insert a 5/16 x 1-1/4-inch bolt with washers into the bent ends. Tighten the nuts with your fingers. Insert 5/16 x 3/4-inch; bolts through the strap from the inside at the midpoint on each side of the water heater. Attach one end of each tube strut to a protruding bolt, add a washer and a nut, and tighten with your fingers. Insert a 5/16 x 3-inch lag screw and a washer in the opposite end of each tube strut and insert it into the hole in the wall stud. You may need to tap the lag screw gently into the hole to start it, then tighten it with a wrench.
10. Adjust the straps to the proper height and tighten all nuts snugly, but not too tight.

NOTE: You may wish to install an insulation jacket if your water heater is in an unheated space.