Installed New Hot Water Heater

Was working on Flue pipe last night with my neighbor, and he ask me why I didnt raise up the Hot water heater and put it on a plateform. Well first off all the one that came out wasn't that way I told him. He said it just safer as far as he was concerned. Is that realy necessary? Also obn the side of the H/W the relief valve I bought from Home Depot a thick pipe which was hard PVC and it was in the H/W dept and he said it needed to be copper. Help

If the water heater is located in the garage I would place it on a platform 18" off the floor. The new waterheaters are supposed to be protected against flash fire (vapor ignition) but personaly I would still do it.

You can use copper if you want on the T&P valve but PVC should be O.K.

heater

The new gas heaters only have to be on an 18" platform if they are located where a car could run into them. PVC is not an approved material for a relief valve line because the water coming from it is well beyond its temperature range and it will "melt". Use copper or steel pipe. Even CPVC does not work, because it does not have a full 3/4" internal opening.