Outdoor Gas On-Demand, hardwire or Plug, GFCI?

Status
Not open for further replies.
grasfulls

grasfulls

Always tired, so cannot retire
Location
Placer County. CA
Occupation
Professional inane question maker
We are selling our home. The outdoor, gas fired, on-demand water heater is plugged into a GFCI outlet. The home inspector said it must be hardwired. I somewhat argued that I would then have to provide a local means of disconnect and a GFCI feeding the circuit (feed through, load side of GFCI receptacle, or breaker). Do these have to be hardwired?
Thanks!!
gare
 
grasfulls said:
We are selling our home. The outdoor, gas fired, on-demand water heater is plugged into a GFCI outlet. The home inspector said it must be hardwired. I somewhat argued that I would then have to provide a local means of disconnect and a GFCI feeding the circuit (feed through, load side of GFCI receptacle, or breaker). Do these have to be hardwired?
Thanks!!
gare
Click to expand...

Did it come with a cord and plug or was that field installed?

If your cord and plug was field installed does instructions say it intended to be cord and plug connected?

If allowed to be cord and plug connected, GFCI protection is required for the "outdoor receptacle" and not so much for the appliance unless the instructions require GFCI.
 
You are a sparky Yes?

You want to sell your place. How much is it going to cost you for a switched GFCI and some seal-tight. I bet you have some scrap laying around.

I would doubt that a appliance cord is rated for outdoors if that is what was used.
 
rcarroll said:
Do you or can you get the installation manual? Indoor insta-hots don't have to be hardwired.
And, I'm sure the home inspector can provide a code section. :lol:
Click to expand...

I think you mentioned a few key words- "indoor" and "installation manual". Before I discussed the connection method, I would want to know if it is even approved for outdoor use.
 
cord/cap on-demand

cord/cap on-demand

Thanks All,
Two outdoor rated on-demands. We have never hardwired the gas on demands, cord and cap to satisfy local means of disconnect. You would think after 35 years of doing this I would read a manual!!
They did not come with a cord, just like many small appliances. I actually cut an outdoor rated construction cable and made up the cord/cap... perhaps there is a violation there?
They were installed with a permit, inspected, and passed - maybe 5 years ago.
I will look up the model numbers and see if the installation instructions mandate type of electrical and will let you know.
 
The manual says either

The manual says either

Found the manual online, wonder why I made my own cord? I cannot remember:
QUOTE
Note: When installing the water heater outdoors, either use the
included power cord with an approved outdoor outlet or
hard wire the appliance.
END QUOTE

But, I suppose an AHJ could require hardwired. Since that is not the case when it was installed, I will leave it as-is unless a prospective buyer balks.

Thank you all again
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top