Question on piping a heater

[NullQwerty]

I'm piping in the water pipes for my Hayward natural gas heater. The diagrams in the installation manual show the inlet and outlet pipes coming out the side of the heater and doing a 90 degree turn downwards. But, it never actually says that it's necessary for them to point downwards. Is there any reason why I can't have them come out the side of the heater and do a 90 degree turn upwards instead? I wasn't sure if they have it going downwards to prevent water from reentering the heater after the pump was shutoff?

Thanks

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[mas985]

Mine comes straight out (same heater) so I don't think it matters. Also unless you have a vacuum release valve somewhere in the plumbing, when the pump shuts off water will not flow and remains in the heater at all times.

 

[ps0303]

It doesn't matter if it does a loop do lou as it comes out of the heater. If you have an inline chlorinator that you put tabs in, make sure you put a check valve on the line returning to the pool. This will prevent the chlorinator from back feeding into the heater.

 

[NullQwerty]

Thanks everyone.
I've got a salt water system. Is a check valve needed there?

 

[ps0303]

Not as necessary on a salt system.