What is the fan on top of my water heater?

A power vent water heater uses a blower or fan to exhaust gases by pushing them through vent pipes that are horizontal. … The primary advantage of a power vent is that the water heater can be located in any area and does not require a vertical vent or chimney.

Does a water heater need a vent pipe?

All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas require a venting system. The process of burning of the gas is called combustion and it creates heat, exhaust gases (including highly poisonous carbon monoxide), and moisture.

What is the proper way to vent a gas water heater?

The venting must be vertical or upward sloping so that the hot exhaust rises up through the venting to exit your home. Making sure that your home has a properly working vent system is imperative when installing a standard atmospheric vent with your water heater.

Is the vent pipe on a hot water heater supposed to be hot?

Heat from a gas water heater vent is normal. Even triple wall pipe will get hot enough to burn to the touch. Carbon Monoxide is odorless, you didnt describe the odor.

Why are power vent water heaters so expensive?

A power vent water heater will cost more initially due to extra equipment needed such as the fan and blower. Also, you will need to run a power line to the fan which will also add to the cost.

How high does a water heater vent need to be?

For a single-wall pipe, you need 6 clearance, and you cannot pass it through a ceiling, floor, or wall unless it’s masonry or concrete (non-combustible). For the draft hood connection, you need to allow for at least 12 of vertical vent before throwing an elbow fitting in the line.

Can you vent water heater through wall?

Atmospherically venting gas water heaters is the most common type of venting option used. … The vents go directly through an outside wall, and can also bring in combustion air to the gas burner.

How do I know if my water heater is venting?

Can you install a power vent on an existing water heater?

Member. NO NO NO!Unless the water heater originally was manufactured with a power vent assembly and you are replacing it. Power vent water heaters are manufactured differently from the ground up.

Can you vent a gas hot water heater with PVC?

PVC is fine. As Jason mentioned, plastic (PVC or ABS) is ok to use as a venting material on powervented hot water heaters. They work by sending a huge amount of air in with the flue gases that it decreases the temperature of the exhaust going through the vent enough that it will not comprimise the vent.

How hot does a gas water heater vent pipe get?

As scale builds up and the heater efficiency falls off, the flue gas temperatures can easily increase to over 350 degrees F. Even if someone had their water heater set at 120 F, with scaling, the flue gas temperatures can rise well above 300 F.

What is the difference between direct vent and atmospheric vent?

Direct-Vent Water Heater Vent Type They use a separate vent pipe to draw in fresh air and require a zero tolerance for the safe movement of the flue gasses. This vent type is more flexible in terms of venting installation than the atmospheric type while also being quieter than the power-vent.

Can you duct tape a water heater vent?

Duct tape and flexible ducts are OK for a fume hood exhausts or for ventilation ducts, but not for combustion exhausts.

Can you use dryer vent water heater?

Thanks. They are allowed. You just have to make sure that they are of the proper type and not a laundry vent connector. That one looks like it is of the proper type.

Can I vent my water heater with my furnace?

Many homes are built with the water heater and furnace sharing the same exhaust vent. This practice is common with standard efficiency (80%) furnaces. When installed correctly, this venting arrangement works with an 80% gas furnace (or less than 80%) + gas water heater.

How much does it cost to install a power vent water heater?

Power Vent Water Heater Installation Cost An installed power vent water heater averages $1,050 to $5,000. They have more moving parts and require electricity to vent. Even if you use gas to heat your water, your water heater requires electricity to work.

Are power vent water heaters worth it?

Power vent water heaters are more energy efficient, so they require less gas to operate. The lower energy consumption will save you some money, but probably not more than $20 a year, making this an added benefit, but not a deciding factor. … A power vent water heater can be a good option for this situation.

What is the difference between power vent and direct vent water heater?

The difference is that a power vent water heater pulls in combustion air from the space around the appliance, then uses a fan to propel the exhaust through the vent. A direct vent system pulls in air from outside and then vents the exhaust through a horizontal pipe.

Can you put a gas water heater in a closet?

Yes, a gas water heater can be installed in a closet as long as the closet is not used for storage. The International Residential Code (IRC) specifically bans a storage closet as a location for a gas water heater.

What causes a water heater to backdraft?

The main reasons for backdrafting at the water heater are the poor vent installation and obstructions found in the vent pipe. This problem affects mainly the atmospheric gas type water heaters that use natural convection to remove the combustion products, known as exhaust gases.

Can B Vent be used horizontally?

The Type B or single-wall vent connector cannot be installed horizontally. But it can be run almost horizontally: 1/4 per foot slope upward toward the vent, with no dips or sags, per International Residential Code (IRC G2427. 10.7). The vent it connects to must terminate vertically.

What is B vent?

B vent: This approach, also called natural vent, pulls air from indoors for combustion and vents it outside. It features a chimney with a double wall pipe which runs from the fireplace to outside of the home. … This tightly-sealed system eliminates use of any inside air. This type of fireplace does not require a chimney.

What happens if a water heater is not vented properly?

The residual gas fumes from your water heater’s burn process must be drawn through the vent pipes and up the chimney to exhaust outdoors. When that isn’t happening properly, the results could be costly — or worse, extremely dangerous.

How do you turn off a backdraft water heater?

The simplest way to prevent backdrafting is to provide a source of replacement air (also called combustion air) for your furnace, water heater and fireplace to replace the air that flows up the chimney with the exhaust fumes (Fig. C).

How do you turn off a backdraft hot water heater?

The relatively small burner on the water heater may not generate enough heat to warm up the chimney or vent, which can lead to backdrafting. In many cases, a new vent liner will be installed to allow the water heater to vent into a smaller space.