[LazyPup]

Austin,,I appologize for my tardiness in responding but I am not real familiar with the Griant Greenform Super Cascade water heater. I have been doing some online research and I have submitted an email to the manufacturer to get some specific details. I must say that from what I have learned, that appears to be a top of the line unit.

It appears that your water heater has both top ports and an auxillary side input for cold water. When water enters a water heater vessel through a top port it then goes down through an internal dip tube to discharge the water near the bottom of the tank. Thst is to insure that the hottest available water is at the top of the tank near the hot water discharge port and also takes advantage of the physical law of nature that heat rises.

The addition of an auxillary side input is normally only done on water heaters that are designed for instant on recirculating systems, for auxillary heat sources such as solar panels or HVAC heat recovery, and for heaters which may also be used as a boiler for hydronic heating.

Technically speaking, there is no problem with inputting the cold water through that port as it does ultimately end up at basically the same place inside the heater vessel, however, my research did turn up an interesting feature of your heater. It has built in dielectric fittings, a feature which is normally only found on high end units. That means that the copper piping may be directly attached to the heater vessel without having to install additional dielectric couplings, although I am not sure that the side input port has a built in dielectric coupling. That is one of the questions I posed to the manufacturer in my email.

In the mean time, i would like to offer you some points of the code that apply to your unit and the manner inwhich you describe the installation.

Both the International Residential Plumbing Code (IRC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code expressly require "proper installation and support of all piping, valves and fittings (IRC 2605.1) & (UPC 314.0)..That means there should be no undue stresses on any pipe, valve or fitting.

In addition,,

Water heaters are required to have a union not more than 12" from the vessel to permit changing or servicing the unit. (IRC 2801.3)(UPC 609.5)

Water heaters MUST HAVE s full bore type shutoff valve (Gate valve or ball valve) (IRC 2903.9.2) (UPC 605.2)

T&p valve drain MUST be at least equal in diameter to the T&P discharge valve port( code requires increaing the diameter for long runs per a table of length) (IRC 2803,6,1) (UPC 608.5)

There are a number of regultions concerning the proper discharge of T&P drain lines, which i will be glad to offer if you require them.

Electric heaters require either a direct line of sight from the unit to the electrical circuit breaker or a lockable disconnect. (IRC 1307.5 & T4001.5) (UPC 309.0m)

Attic or underfloor mounted units require a light and electrical recepacle near the waer heater. (IRC 1305.1.4.3 & 1305.1.3.1 & 3803.4)
(UPC511.5)

Ligth switch required at the entrance to the attic or underfloor space..(IRC3803.4) (UPC 511.5)