Posted 2009-07-13 4:33 PM (#107962) Subject: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
In my weekender package, I would like to place the propane water heater underneath the 2-way friedge. It seems like it would not be a good idea to put the hot thing under the cold thing. I thought that if I put insulation between the two, it might be ok. But would the insulation create a fire hazard? Perhaps sandwich it between two heat resistance boards? If I could do this, it would allow me to make better use of my limited space. Thanks, Betty
Posted 2009-07-13 7:05 PM (#107972 - in reply to #107962) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The hot water heaters have insulation around the tanks. The burners are directly vented to the outside air. They don't put off much heat in the surrounding space, but it does get warm.
The bottom of the refrigerator also has a gas burner, and sometimes an auxiliary electric heater. This area too is vented outside, but the bottom of the fridge also gets warm while in use.
I would be leery of placing most insulations, in an area that could have a potential of a gas driven direct flame. Perhaps a product like a cement board, would be a better divider between the two units. I don't know how much heat would be produced by the combination of the two units.
One alternative would be the installation of an electronic components' cooling fan, commonly called a muffin fan. They have a life span of thousands of hours, are available in 12V, are small, and are fairly inexpensive. One installed in the cavity of the two units, would evacuate the standing air. If you know someone discarding a computer, they are installed to cool the power supply and mother board areas. They are usually running perfectly and are discarded with the rest of the equipment.
Posted 2009-07-13 7:33 PM (#107973 - in reply to #107962) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
My water heater is under my 2-way frige. The trailer is 10 years old and it has never been a problem. I don't know if it is insulated between or not but the water heater has a lot of insulation around it. Hope this helps.
Posted 2009-07-14 6:43 AM (#107989 - in reply to #107962) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Are those mufins fans the same that I occaisionally see installed in the stalls? My HART does not have the hip drops that I'd had on my new (to me) trailer list, and I'd thought of putting fans in the stalls to help combat this Texas heat. i don't go anywhere in the summer anyway, but down here it can still be hot in November-December, and I thought they'd be a good addition.
Posted 2009-07-14 8:25 AM (#107997 - in reply to #107989) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by ridingarocky on 2009-07-14 7:43 AM
Are those mufins fans the same that I occaisionally see installed in the stalls? .
No. They are small fans used to evacuate limited air spaces, usually in electronic installations. They would not provide enough cfm of air flow, to work well in an open stall area.
Posted 2009-07-14 10:22 AM (#108004 - in reply to #107962) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Our 5th wheel camper had all the propane on the same side of the camper, the frig, the stovetop were side by side, the water heater was under the stovetop and the furnace under the large 2 way frig. Worked at least 15 years I know. Good luck with your project.!
Posted 2009-07-14 4:36 PM (#108023 - in reply to #107962) Subject: RE: ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
Thanks for the comments. I will go ahead and put the water heater under the fridge, will give me more useable space. I will make sure there is a good amount of space between the two, and look into adding a blower fan with a thermostat if I can find one. I've got my trailer insulated, the floor in and the bulkhead covered. The A/C unit is being placed on Wednesday, but not wired. I pick up bunch of electrical stuff this week. Next is the carpet on the gooseneck, boot box for water tank, furring strips, then electrical. I've taken some pictures, but have not taken them off my camera yet.
ok to place hot water heater under friedge?
