Gas Hot Water Heater Venting

Two specialized types of water heaters direct vent and mechanical vent also called power vent are exempted from this code requirement.

Gas hot water heater venting. Most tank type gas water heaters are atmospheric vent type and they are required to vent vertically and above the roof of a home. Atmospheric venting refers to a system in which exhaust from the water heater naturally rises out of the appliance s combustion chamber then travels up through a standard chimney style flue. One problem you need to avoid is back drafting. The photo below shows typical combined furnace water heater venting.

All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane lp gas require a venting system. When installed correctly this venting arrangement works with an 80 gas furnace or lower than 80 gas water heater. Make sure that the ventilation direct outside the house or else there is a chance of fire or explosion in the house. The venting system of the gas water heaters might consist of one or two pipes.

You see this most commonly with atmospheric configurations and it means that your exhaust isn t leaving the home. The two pipe system might be further divided on the concentric pipe inside the pipe or two separate pipes and the vents can run horizontally vertically or combined. A water heater vent pipe can be used for this venting with a hot water heater vent cap for safety reasons. Gas hot water heater venting problems.

Illustrations of proper gas fired water heater venting using type b double wall vent pipe through a roof above or through a chimney below include details for the flue vent connector such as the requirement of a minimum vent connector upwards slope of 1 4 per foot of horizontal run.