A un-licensed renovation on our house was performed about 15 years ago, which turned a former garage into a 200 sq ft den directly attached to the rest of the house. In this den is a gas-fired water heater. It is not enclosed, and still has all the same venting it had prior to the renovation.
Is having a gas-fired water heater in a living area legal according to the Florida building code? Or to get right to the real point, is this a carbon monoxide hazard?
Best Answer
As long as the gas appliance is vented properly, it is not a CO hazard. Venting is vital to ensure combustion products (i.e., CO) do not remain in the living space. If you are in doubt, get the water heater checked by a professional.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also required by code - one on each floor and outside each set of bedrooms. But, perhaps counter-intuitively, do not place a CO detector close to the water heater (or any other gas appliance); doing so can lead to false positive readings / alarms.