Your water heater is a great resource for emergency supplies of water in the event of catastrophe. It does, however, need to be safeguarded from earthquakes if you live an earthquake prone area. Homeowners of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska are required by local laws to secure their water heater if they are installing or replacing one. You'll want to make sure that your hot water heater also has a flexible gas supply line. If you don't have one, contact a plumber to install one!
After the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes, plumbers and contractors changed the way they secure water tanks. In the "old days" a single strip of plumbers' tape was all that held them. Suffice to say, the arrangement did not work so well. Ideally, you'll want to secure the top and bottom of the tank, not just the middle or just the top. Use heavy-gauge steel rather than tape, and replace all that copper and metal piping with flexible natural gas and water line connectors. They are much more forgiving to being jostled around and are much safer.
Heavy Metal
I'd probably leave the flexible hoses to the plumbers, but strapping the hot water heater should be easy enough to do at home. I'd go the kit route. Kiits range from $15 to $40, depending on the material and the size of your tank. They can be picked up at your local hardware store. It wont take too much time or too much money, and if you live on the west coast -- it's the law. Nylon straps are better that plumber's tape, but considering the very small price difference, I'd opt to go with steel. The kits come with washer, spacers, lag screws, tension bolts and the strapping. If there's more than an inch or two of space betwen the tank and the wall, you'll want to attach a wooden block with long lag screws to keep a firm hold when you brace it.
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Yes You Can
There's a first time for everything, of course. Here's a note for some of you who may not be comfortable doing it yourself. I used to never this stuff when I was young. I simply didn't know how, and my father sure wasn't the handiest man in town. I had no one to teach me. Necessity however, is indeed the mother of invention, and once I found myself with a family, I also found that part of the role of "Dad" include part-time contractor. You'll figure it out. As a second side note, lest anyone think that this applies only to men, I offer this disclaimer: my wife is handier than I am. During a tenure where work often kept me from home for weeks at a time, Mrs. Fisten was often forced to make home repairs like this.
I have to admit, I was suspicious at first, and no doubt, my long-distance coaching over the phone was likely (I'll admit) patronizing, as I labored every step of a rebuilt sink. When I returned, not only did I find much cleaner handiwork than I was capable of, I also found that the Fisten family's collection of power tools had doubled. This take me to my third and fourth disclaimer: Yes I have strapped a water heater in the recent past, and yes, my wife did all the work. Still, I bought the darned thing and helped her.
Steel Strappin' Time
Anyway, on game day, when it's time to do the deed, wrap that heavy-gauge metal strapping one to one and a half times around the tank. Start in the back of the tank, and wrap forward. Then bring that big boy to theback of the wall
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Wrap the heavy-gauge metal strapping 1-1/2 times around the tank. Place the strapping at the back of the tank. Bring it to the front and then take it back to the wall. Use those long lag screws (which should be at least three inches) and either secure it to a wall stud or that wood block I told you that you might need. If you have to secure it to a concrete wall, use 1/4-inch expansion bolts instead of the screws.
That's it.
