Tankless and GFCI
Tankless and GFCI
I'm in Los Angeles and I do a lot of power for residential thankless water heaters for a friend plumbing contractor.
I pretty much maintain use of GFCI only in the normal code usage. If the tankless is outdoors anywhere, GFCI and a bubble cover. If it's indoors and nowhere near any other water source (6f)) I won't use a GFCI, unless the homeowner specified they would like one used.
There has been one question that I have that I cannot find an answer to and that is the PT(pressure and temperature) valve and if it has a directional pipe, and the proximity of the receptacle to the pipe or pipeless valve. Sometimes space is limited for the receptacle install and it ends up below the valves general location. If the PT valve should open we could have a problem.
So, I usually have the plumber extend the pipe down past the height of the receptacle to avoid any water contact. Since that is really the only open water source, and its usage is mechanical and not a tap source for water. That is for indoor install, is that good enough?
As far as I'm concerned if the tankless is indoors and not within 6ft of another water source, I treat it as I would a laundry plug. No GFCI