High Efficiency Hot Water Heater Venting

There are also single concentric water heater power vent pvc vent pipe systems used by a high efficiency and high efficiency condensing storage tank type water heaters.

High efficiency hot water heater venting. Hot water heaters and other fuel venting appliances must have vents sized according to code. The electronic controls monitor the water temperature and reheat the tank when necessary. That combustion process creates hot waste gases that need to be vented outside. 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. The burner produces a flame within an open combustion chamber beneath the metal tank that heats the water from below. There is a flue baffle within the flue that slows down. High e furnaces have separate venting.

They have combustion air supplied from the exterior some water heater pvc vent pipe systems might be 2 pipes starting at the water heater and converted into one concentric. This is done via a metal flue or multiple flues in units with higher btu inputs that sits above the burner and runs the length of the tank. Chimney venting may not be the right way to vent these appliances. 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.

The old vent pipe is too large because it served both the furnace and water heater. Traditional gas fired forced air furnaces produce hot combustion exhaust gasses and therefore need metal vent pipes or chimneys. It s best to use a stainless steel chimney liner if you re high efficiency water heater or furnace exhausts into a masonry chimney. With a replacement high efficiency furnace the existing vent pipe does not work for water heater only because the vent is too large.

The water heater maintains a tank of hot water available for immediate use. The process of burning of the gas is called combustion and it creates heat exhaust gases including highly poisonous carbon monoxide and moisture the water heater s ventilation system removes these byproducts from the home making it a critical safety feature.