Gas Water Heater Vent Pipe Installation

The vent system for a gas fired water heater must be installed according to local and state codes or in the absence of local or state codes the current edition of.

Gas water heater vent pipe installation.

To check the venting on your existing unit close all windows and doors and turn on all gas appliances and exhaust fans and turn up the temperature on your water heater for a few minutes. Connect the vent pipe to the hood with sheet metal screws. Step 1 gas water heaters need proper venting for operation. Atmospheric venting works on the principle of hot air rising.

Atmospheric gas water heaters vent their exhaust through a vertical or upward sloping metal duct vent to exit the home. Alteration of any part of the factory furnished vent assembly could result in improper operation due to. Typically if the existing vent that served both furnace water heater is larger than 4 inches a smaller vent pipe must be installed to serve only the water heater. The national fuel gas code ansi z223 1 nfpa 54 link to 2012 edition.

This venting may either be dedicated to the water heater or can be shared with other atmospheric vent appliances such as a furnace. Discover the differences between single wall vents. Before properly venting a gas water heater it s important to determine if there is a proper natural draw. Use the manufacturer provided draft hood.

Then hold an extinguished match near the vent hood. Gas water heater vent pipe connector must continuously run upward towards the chimney entrance rising not less than 1 4 per linear foot to provide proper draft. Some installation might be a significant challenge or even become impossible due to a water heater height and chimney flue connection level in those cases induced draft motor equipped water heater should be considered. The size in gallons of the water heater.

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. A direct vent system pulls in air from outside and then vents the exhaust through a horizontal pipe. Check the installation manual for the recommended diameter vent pipe for your new heater. This difference in operation means that you can install a direct vent system almost anywhere.

The duct may be metal or plastic depending on the type of vent system. Never use a reducer even if the hood s opening is smaller than the vent pipe. Snap the new draft hood onto the water heater and secure it with sheet metal screws. 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.