Rule of thumbRecommended
Water heater near fixtures
WATER-HEATER-NEAR-FIXTURESDescription
Place the water heater within 30-40 ft of the most-used fixtures (kitchen sink, primary bath). Long runs waste water + energy waiting for hot.
Why this exists
Distance from heater to tap = water + energy waste at every use.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
maxRunDistance | max | 40 | ft |
Categories
PlumbingEnergy
Source
Fine Homebuildingno manifest entry
Magazine archives (—)
Section: Various editorial references
Published 2024-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Wet-wall clustering · WET-WALL-CLUSTERING
- Avoid plumbing on exterior walls in cold climates · PLUMBING-AGAINST-EXTERIOR-WALLS
- Living spaces south-facing in cold climates · LIVING-SOUTH-FACING
- Mechanical room central, not corner · MECHANICAL-CENTRAL
- Roof orientation for future solar · SOLAR-ROOF-ORIENTATION
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.