Water Heater in Attic

-Due to space constraints, some builders and remodelers have considered putting electric water heaters in their attic. Some people have bought houses where the water heater is already in the attic, and they wonder whether or not they should move it.

-In my opinion, an attic is a bad spot for a water heater. I would be very worried about leaks, even if the usual precautions were taken. The usual precautions include a pan, a pump, an alarm, or any combination these. Also, it can be difficult to access and replace the water heater, if necessary, if it is located in the attic.

-Tankless water heaters might be a good alternative to putting a water heater in the attic; however, I believe that these draw lots of power and can require special electrical wiring to accomodate them.

-A reasonable solution might be to place the water heater outside in a shed. These sheds can be insulated and possibly heated if necessary. You can even wrap insulation around the water heater itself if you are worried about freezing temperatures. I think they call these "heater blankets".

-In short, I would do everything I could to avoid putting a water heater in my attic, and my most likely solution would be a dedicated water heater shed.