Gas Water Heater Venting Options

The main problem with atmospheric vent systems is that they are susceptible to back drafts more on that later.

Gas water heater venting options.

The exhaust is in the center so that the outside of the vent does not heat up. Standard atmospheric water heaters are the most common type of residential gas water heaters. A direct vent system pulls in. With a replacement high efficiency furnace the existing vent pipe does not work for water heater only because the vent is too large.

This venting may either be dedicated to the water heater or can be shared with other atmospheric vent appliances such as a furnace. Tankless water heaters use fans to blow exhaust from the unit horizontally allowing vents to terminate on the side of a house. There are three the most used venting systems in residential water heating. Traditional gas tank water heater require venting through the roof.

Tankless water heaters can vent through the roof or a side wall creating more flexibility and options for placement. Type l vent is double walled vent. 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. Atmospheric is the most common gas water heater venting option.

There are concentric and dual. Water heater ducts may lead directly outdoors or they may tie into a larger vent duct that also serves a gas or propane furnace or boiler in the home. When installed correctly this venting arrangement works with an 80 gas furnace or lower than 80 gas water heater. Type b due to its temperature rating can only be used with atmospheric gas water heaters.

All venting installations must conform with local codes. The photo below shows typical combined furnace water heater venting. Selecting the best venting option for a gas water heater types of the venting systems. Power vented water heaters work the same as ordinary water heaters but the exhaust gases are blown out with a small fan instead of rising upwards through metal pipes.

A concentric vent kit has both the intake and the outgoing in the same pipe. The two pipe system. All water heater venting systems use a vent duct or pipe also called a chimney or flue to bring exhaust gases from the water heater to the outdoors. There are two types of venting available for this type of tankless water heater.

Atmospheric gas water heaters vent their exhaust through a vertical or upward sloping metal duct vent to exit the home. Type l is stainless lined and used for oil and power gas heaters.