First check from inside if there may be electric cables or plumbing pipes?
Where the mount will go, check from inside for studs. Look for electric outlets, remove the cover and try to see if it's fastened to a stud. Most studs are 16" apart. Once you find the center of that stud (drill more holes if must or stud finder), measure over 16" and confirm that mark is the stud center. Inside holes can be patched and spot painted.
Then you can measure from common spot, such as a window or door and make the approximate mark outside. Or get long drill bit (16" or so x 3/16) and drill through the wall to outside. First prove with a wire and make sure you hit nothing but the sheathing and there's no wire or pipe outside.
If you know about where the studs are, you can confirm the centers by drilling from outside as well. Make a mark where the heater mount will go and drill small holes below it. Caulk over later and all the prove holes will be hidden by the heater.
There may be stud finders that can sense through the wood siding and even tell you if there are cables and pipes, but I like to confirm physically.
Electrical wires are usually centered in 2x4 studs and you can use 1.25" screws only when installing 1/2" drywall. Keep that in mind for your fastener lengths. For 60 lbs, and the heater probably doesn't move or vibrate (?), so even #14 or so wood screws should be enough. Even galvanized, I would use ss screws.
When proving with drill bit or wire, don't punch through. Go as much as the depth of the drywall, example, then prove with a wire for obstruction.
Where the mount will go, check from inside for studs. Look for electric outlets, remove the cover and try to see if it's fastened to a stud. Most studs are 16" apart. Once you find the center of that stud (drill more holes if must or stud finder), measure over 16" and confirm that mark is the stud center. Inside holes can be patched and spot painted.
Then you can measure from common spot, such as a window or door and make the approximate mark outside. Or get long drill bit (16" or so x 3/16) and drill through the wall to outside. First prove with a wire and make sure you hit nothing but the sheathing and there's no wire or pipe outside.
If you know about where the studs are, you can confirm the centers by drilling from outside as well. Make a mark where the heater mount will go and drill small holes below it. Caulk over later and all the prove holes will be hidden by the heater.
There may be stud finders that can sense through the wood siding and even tell you if there are cables and pipes, but I like to confirm physically.
Electrical wires are usually centered in 2x4 studs and you can use 1.25" screws only when installing 1/2" drywall. Keep that in mind for your fastener lengths. For 60 lbs, and the heater probably doesn't move or vibrate (?), so even #14 or so wood screws should be enough. Even galvanized, I would use ss screws.
When proving with drill bit or wire, don't punch through. Go as much as the depth of the drywall, example, then prove with a wire for obstruction.
