This question is relative to the California Plumbing Code (CPC), specifically the Sacramento area.
I'm doing some remodeling of a bathroom where the water heater pan drain line comes across the ceiling a bit lower than I can allow because I'm replacing a drop ceiling with hard and I'd like to get it up higher than where the pipe exits the exterior wall.
The drain is running parallel to the wet wall of the bathroom and therefore I have access to the building sewage drain system. Is it okay, per the above codes, to connect the water heater drain pan to the building waste system?
I've found an inspection checklist which says…
Drain-Pan shall be required when a water heater and/or tank is
installed in a location where it could cause damage; in case of
failure/leak to floor, sub-floor, drywall. Drain pan shall be
installed with a minimum ¾” drain outlet and discharge that drains to
the exterior of the building or an approved location. (2013 CPC Section 508.4)
…so being that the heater itself is in the attic space I have to follow this rule. But when it says (emphasis mine)…
"that drains to the exterior of the building or an approved location."
…I'm not able to find where in the code it defines approved locations. Can anyone shed some light on this issue please?
Best Answer
An Approved location that I'm aware of is like a Floor Drain. Though Ariel is Correct, you would need an Air Gap. So the pipe would have a 1" min Gap to the Drain so that any back flow of water could not touch the exit pipe. The Main issue here is keeping the sewer gases in the system and not outside. This is what the p-Trap is for. Its a water barrier to prevent sewer gases from escaping the system. The Water Heater Drain pan does not typically have water and any p-Trap installed in that line would not have any water in it to fill the p-Trap.
My HVAC system is in the Attic and it sits in a large drain pan so if the AC leaks water will drain out. They plumbed the 3/4" PVC drain to a Soffit vent over a window. The purpose for the over the window was it would be obvious to someone that there was a leak.
Hope that helps.