Water Heaters

Why This Matters on the Exam

Water heaters are the backbone of residential plumbing. You'll see questions about them on every C-36 exam—installation standards, diagnostics, safety equipment, the whole deal. The ones that trip people up are seismic strapping, venting, T&P relief valve discharge routing, and expansion tank requirements. I've seen guys fail because they didn't know California's seismic rules or thought a relief valve could just dump anywhere. Don't be that person.

What You Must Know

Water heaters demand secure installation with proper support, correct venting per appliance type, and protective devices including temperature and pressure relief valves. Different heater types (tank gas, tank electric, tankless, heat pump) have distinct installation and venting requirements. Seismic safety requirements vary by region but are mandatory in California—this isn't optional. Expansion tanks are critical in closed systems to manage thermal expansion. This is core stuff you need to know cold.