Electrical & Water Heater Questions

[Mike M.]

Two questions for you more knowledgable rehabbers: 1. Several rooms in my project are fed with sheathed two-wire supply (no independent ground). Electrician said NEC would allow replacement of outlets with GFCI and "no ground" label. If I can find the lead outlet, can you replace it only and will it qualify the others downstream, or does each outlet have to be GFCI to meet code? I have a water heater in the laundry room. We are enclosing laundry room and making it accessible internally (only access external today). For aesthetics, I was thinking of placing a curtain around the heater. Imagine a 1/4 circular rod with 18" clearance from the heater. Before I leave another unreturned message with the city, what say you? Legal? Wise? Thanks as always.

[Mark Brogan]

in my area @Mike M. when i do a rehab we just plan on running new wire to recept. boxes and pull permit to this because it looks good when you go to sell house 

more and more buyers are looking to see if you pull permits 

last rehab we sold the buyer told me he was willing to pay more since he saw we pulled permits 

as far as water heater i would not worry about hiding it with a curtain rod 

it would not cause you a code problem in my area