Can a tankless water heater and furnace share a vent?
This is the question this article seeks to answer, and below is everything you need to know about tankless water heaters, furnaces, and sharing ventilation systems. A tankless water heater and a furnace can share a vent, but both systems must allow for this. If your two systems aren’t compatible, you could be creating flood and fire hazards.
What is the difference between condensing and non-condensing water heaters?
Because non-condensing tankless water heaters often generate a lot of heat exhaust, they require metal venting, usually stainless steel or thick aluminum. But condensing units don’t give off nearly the amount of exhaust that non-condensing units do, and often this exhaust is only between 110° and 120°F.
How many pipes does a tankless water heater have?
While most direct vent tankless water heaters utilize two pipes, some are manufactured with only a single pipe. This pipe contains an inner exhaust vent as well as an outer intake vent. An all-in-one pipe such as this is beneficial for a couple of reasons. Since there is only one pipe, only one penetration hole in a wall or ceiling will be needed.
How does a tankless water heater work?
A tankless water heater has a combustion fan that blows exhaust horizontally. Compare this with a traditional water heater, which uses a galvanized steel B-vent to suck the hot exhaust upward and out of the system by way of natural draft.
How far does a water heater have to be from a furnace?
How Far Should A Water Heater Be From A Furnace? By and large, the clearance around your furnace should be wide enough to allow easy access for purposes of repairing and sometimes replacement of the furnace. Most building codes require that furnaces should have at least 30 inches of clear space from the walls.
Can you vent a tankless water heater and furnace together?
There are two ways to vent a tankless water heater with a furnace. The first is a power vent that uses indoor air for combustion and an outside vent to exhaust gases. This type of venting system doesn't need an intake valve, but there has to be enough air inside the room.
Can HVAC and water heater be in same room?
But the answer is yes they can be in the same closet.
Can two gas appliances share a vent?
The manufacturer's listing and instructions will preclude attaching any other appliances to it. Multiple gas or oil furnaces or boilers, as well as hot water heaters, can be vented into one flue.
What is the code for venting a tankless water heater?
The water heater must be vented in accordance with the section “Venting of Equipment" of the latest edition of the National Fuel Gas Code: ANSI Z223.
What is concentric venting?
0:002:26Concentric Vent Kits - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow one pipe blows the vent or exhaust gases to the outdoors. The other pipe pulls fresh air intoMoreNow one pipe blows the vent or exhaust gases to the outdoors. The other pipe pulls fresh air into the furnace that's used in the combustion process. If you don't want to install or.
Does the furnace control the hot water?
Furnaces also have the job of heating your home, but they don't use water at all. Instead, furnaces heat the air itself and then push the warmed air throughout your home using a series of ducts.
How much ventilation does a furnace room need?
A direct-vent furnace requires about 50 cubic feet of air for every 1000 BTUs of fuel input.
Does a water heater have to be in a closet?
Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance, or air space, to function properly and safely. A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater. A certain amount of airflow is also required for proper combustion and ventilation.
What is the code for venting a gas furnace?
503.6. A gas vent shall terminate in accordance with one of the following: 1. Gas vents that are 12 inches (305 mm) or less in size and located not less than 8 feet (2438 mm) from a vertical wall or similar obstruction shall terminate above the roof in accordance with Figure 503.6. 5.
Can you vent a furnace into a chimney?
Furnaces with an AFUE of 90% and greater use special venting material such as PVC or stainless steel. A 90% furnace should never dump flue gases into a chimney. The installation instructions of these furnaces must be followed precisely for safe installation and operation.
How far can you vent a high efficiency furnace?
The maximum vertical distance you can run a furnace exhaust vent is about 15 feet. If there is a forced air inlet within 10 feet of the exhaust vent, the exhaust gas ventilation terminal should be positioned at least 3 feet above it.
Can high efficiency furnace and tankless water heater share vent?
When installing a High-Efficiency Furnace, the existing shared vent will not work for only the water heater because the vent is too large for the water heater's exhaust to to warm the pipe enough so it rises safely out of the home. The old vent pipe is too large because it served both the furnace and water heater.
How do you vent a tankless water heater?
Tankless water heaters can vent through the roof or a side wall, creating more flexibility and options for placement. Traditional gas tank water heater require venting through the roof. Tankless water heaters use fans to blow exhaust from the unit horizontally, allowing vents to terminate on the side of a house.
Can you use B vent on tankless water heater?
Type “B” gas vent can not be used on most of these heaters for this reason. Another reason this vent is required is that the vent systems are under pressure from the fan within the heater.
How do you vent a condensing tankless water heater?
Tankless water heaters can be vented in two ways: power-vent or direct-vent. Power-vent units use indoor air for combustion and simply vent the exhaust to the outside. Direct-vent units pull in air from outside the house, so they have two vents for intake and exhaust.
What type of vents do non-condensing water heaters use?
Because non-condensing tankless water heaters often generate a lot of heat exhaust, they require metal venting, usually stainless steel or thick aluminum. But condensing units don’t give off nearly the amount of exhaust that non-condensing units do, and often this exhaust is only between 110° and 120°F.
Why do people shy away from installing a tankless water heater?
Yet in spite of these benefits, homeowners often shy away from installing tankless water heaters, in part because there are a lot of misconceptions out there about what’s required for tankless water heater ventilation.
How many pipes are in a tankless water heater?
While most direct vent tankless water heaters utilize two pipes, some are manufactured with only a single pipe. This pipe contains an inner exhaust vent as well as an outer intake vent. An all-in-one pipe such as this is beneficial for a couple of reasons.
Do you need venting for a tankless water heater?
If your home is in a place that has a warm climate, you won’t need additional venting when installing a tankless water heater. These systems can withstand subzero temperatures, as they have a self-warming function that prevents freezing and cracking.
Can a tankless water heater vent through a side wall?
Because a tankless water heater is constructed in this way, it is often a go-to replacement option for those who are looking to replace an electric water heater. Moreover, since a tankless water heater can vent through a side wall, this means that there doesn’t have to be an expensive ventilation hole made in the roof.
Do you need to be away from a concentric vent?
Concentric vents don’t need to be distanced from walls, as these don’t generate a lot of heat like typical exhaust vent pipes do. With a concentric vent, warm air is kept on the inside of the vent pipe whereas it’s cool on the outside.
Do tankless water heaters need ventilation?
Tankless water heaters are popular fixtures for a variety of reasons, but if you have a non-condensing system, you are going to need an elaborate ventilation system to go along with it. A proper ventilation system will ensure vapors are properly vented.
