How do you install gas water heater vent?
- Remove the screws connecting the vent pipe to the water heater using a screwdriver or nut driver.
- Leave the old venting in place but check for rust or damage. Replace the flue pipe if it is in poor condition.
- Remove the old water heater. ...
- Dispose of your old water heater. ...
- Clean the floor where the old water heater stood.
What is direct vent gas?
Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces
- Elevation™ X Series. The Elevation™ X Series are our premium traditional style fireplaces featuring a deep firebox and impressive fire display.
- Altitude™ X Series. ...
- Luxuria™ Series. ...
- Vector™ Series. ...
- Acies™ Series. ...
- High Definition Series. ...
- Ascent™ X Series. ...
- Ascent™ Series. ...
- Ascent™ Multi-View Series. ...
- Ascent™ Linear Series. ...
What is the best power vent water heater?
Two Different Types of Water Heaters: Direct & Power Vent
- Direct Vent. Direct vent water heaters are very popular in the Northern Colorado area. ...
- Power Vent. A power vent water heater uses a fan or blower to assist in the removal of exhaust gases from the hot water heater.
- Disadvantages. A power vent water heater will cost more initially due to extra equipment needed such as the fan and blower.
How do you vent a water heater?
White Rodgers Digital Gas Valve
- Unplug Water Heater. Similar to resetting a sump pump, you’ve to start with unplugging the water heater. ...
- Plugin Water Heater. After waiting for a while, reconnect the wire to the power outlet. ...
- Hold Temperature Adjustment Buttons Together. You have to do this step immediately after plugging in the water heater. ...
- Set Code. Now, proceed with setting the code. ...
What is the difference between direct vent and standard vent water heater?
Basically, the difference between the two is that the power vent water heater removes combustion gases from the atmosphere via a powered venting fan, while a direct vent water heater vents these gases into the outdoor atmosphere using a chimney or exhaust pipe.
Are direct vent water heaters more efficient?
A power vent water heater also offers more energy efficiency when compared to a direct vent water heater. By utilizing a fan to operate the power vent, your water heater will require less gas to operate, which means it will require less energy to operate, and it will cost less to operate.
Are direct vent water heaters more expensive?
Direct vent water heaters are simpler and cheaper to install. Usually, a vertical vent is placed against a wall with the flue gas pipe running through a single opening that terminates at the roof. Direct venting systems work well whether there is electricity or not.
Does direct vent water heater need combustion air?
A direct vent water heater is a type of gas water heater. It works by combustion, that is, by “burning” a natural gas or propane fuel. This combustion, in turn, heats your water. Direct vent water heaters are really helpful in spaces where there's not enough ventilation.
Do direct vent water heaters require electricity?
Must Use Electricity: The blower in power vent water heaters must be attached to an electrical source to run. Depending on where your water heater will be located, you may have to install an extra electrical outlet nearby, which is another cost factor.
Does a gas water heater need to be vented through the roof?
Your water heater needs to exhaust flue gases safely, and it must also draw fresh air indin. Because the exhaust includes carbon dioxide, it must vent outside.
How much does a direct vent water heater cost?
An installed direct vent water heater costs between $350 and $4,000. These are both simpler and less expensive to purchase and install. They do not have as many moving parts, so they need fewer repairs over time. All gas models need to vent.
Why do I need a power vent on my gas water heater?
Venting systems are necessary to prevent flue gases from accumulating in your water heater. These gases largely consist of water vapor and carbon dioxide. The vapor becomes acidic and needs to be released in order to relieve combustion pressure and prevent the water heater from exploding.
How far can you vent a direct vent water heater?
Power-vented natural gas water heaters use an electric fan or blower to push or pull combustion gases to the outdoors. This type of venting allows gas water heaters to be installed as far as 40 feet away from an outside wall and in homes without existing vertical vents.
How do direct vent heaters work?
A direct-vent wall furnace is a self-contained sealed combustion heating appliance that warms inside air by recirculating it around a sealed chamber, and discharges combustion byproducts outside the home via direct-vent. They are permanently attached to the structure of a building, and are not connected to ductwork.
Does a gas water heater need a chimney liner?
For optimal use and safety, a liner is needed when installing a new heating system, furnace, boiler, or water heater. Local codes and the International Fuel Gas Code require proper venting and chimney liners for flue gasses to be vented into the outdoor atmosphere.
Can you vent a gas water heater and furnace together?
Vent connectors serving equipment vented by Natural draft (typical water heater) Shall Not Be Connected Into Any Portion of Mechanical-draft systems (80% and higher efficiency gas furnaces). This Means: With Any New Furnace Installation — A Gas Water Heater Must Then Be Separately Vented.
What is the advantage of a power vent water heater?
Flexibility: Rather than using a vent that runs through the middle of your home, power vent manufacturers allow for longer runs on the vent, allowing you to place the unit virtually anywhere in your home that's most convenient. Performance: Power vent water heaters can provide hot water faster than alternative options.
How much does a direct vent water heater cost?
An installed direct vent water heater costs between $350 and $4,000. These are both simpler and less expensive to purchase and install. They do not have as many moving parts, so they need fewer repairs over time. All gas models need to vent.
How far can you vent a direct vent water heater?
Power-vented natural gas water heaters use an electric fan or blower to push or pull combustion gases to the outdoors. This type of venting allows gas water heaters to be installed as far as 40 feet away from an outside wall and in homes without existing vertical vents.
Can I vent my hot water heater through the wall?
A direct vent system also has a double channel singular pipe system. This means that only one single pipe is required to go through the roof or wall where the clean air is moved and the off-gasses will be vented.
Q: Are direct vent water heaters more efficient?
Energy-saving is a significant benefit of directly vented water heaters. They are more energy-efficient, and they require less gas to operate. The...
Q: How long does a direct vent water heater last?
Every model has its own life expectancy based on the manufacturer’s suggestion. However, the average life expectancy of a water heater is from 8 to...
Q: What is the difference between a power vent and a direct vent water heater?
Direct vent water warmer depends on the pressure created from the combustion process to expel gasses. When the waste gasses heat up, they become li...
Q: Should a direct vent water heater be vented vertically or horizontally?
Yes, venting can be done vertically. It is done either horizontally or vertically with a long pipe attached to it in order to help with space and s...
Q: Should the vent pipe be made of stainless steel?
Stainless steel is a reliable as well as a strong material, but the vent pipe doesn’t need to be made of stainless steel when the unit is condensin...
Q: How Does a Direct Vent Water Heater Work?
Unlike the other water heaters, a direct vent water heater does not have a heating element, requiring gas a fuel. These water heaters take air from...
Types of Water Heater Vents
Such water heater vents are usually found in the heaters that are found for residential gas water heaters. They possess the vent in the vertical direction that is either shared with the atmospheric vent like a furnace or specified for the water heater. It works by giving a rise to hot air by exhausting the gases in the upward direction.
What is a Direct Vent Water Heater?
Wondering what is a direct vent gas water heater? It is simple to answer. Usually, the two main power sources of a water heater are electricity or gas heaters. The gas heaters are the conventional water heaters; the tank water heaters that store the water and heat them. The other word for such heaters is the direct vent water heater.
In the End
A ventilation system is an essential part of any water heater operated with gas. However, the venting system working is designed according to the type and space specified for the heaters. The commonly used vent is a direct water heater which is usually or also known as a gas-powered heater.
What is a direct vent water heater?
Simply put, a direct vent water heater is a water heating tank that utilizes a natural airflow system to vent exhaust gasses safely out of your home. Hot exhaust fumes are buoyant compared to the air around them, and a direct vent water heater utilizes this natural principle of physics to allow these dangerous fumes to escape your home in ...
What is an atmospheric water heater?
Atmospheric vent water heaters are very similar to a direct vent water heating system as they do not require a powered infusion of air, but rather use the same principles of buoyancy to allow air to freely escape.
Do all water heaters need a vent?
The short answer is no, not all types of water heater need a vent. However, in a state where natural gas is a common utility in many homes, vented water heaters are plentiful in Colorado, and chances are good that your home does use a direct vent water heater or a power vent water heater.
Does a direct vent water heater need vertical venting?
One unmentioned benefit is that a direct vent water heating system only needs a short length of vertical venting to operate, the rest can be horizontal and exit through a wall, improving the efficiency of the system overall when compared to the following examples.
Can an unpowered venting system be used in an older home?
This can largely eliminate the energy-efficiency benefits of an unpowered venting system. Additionally, atmospheric vents in older homes are sometimes tied into the chimney system, which if done improperly, can increase the chance of backdraft and cause a safety hazard.
Do vents need electricity?
While they consume no electricity and use the laws of nature to move hot exhaust and cold air through the system safely, they do require a small vertical vent and need to be placed somewhat close to the exterior of a home to ensure proper intake and exhaust.
Do electric water heaters burn gas?
Electric water heaters don’t burn gas, and as such, they do not produce toxic fumes that need to be expelled from the house for safety reasons. These hot water heaters come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one defining feature: a pressure vent.
What Is a Direct Vent Water Heater?
Direct vent water heaters utilize special coaxial venting, which means there’s a chamber for intake air and a chamber for exhaust both housed within a single piece of vent. These water heaters are powered by gas, and they work well in homes that lack proper ventilation.
The Pros and Cons of Direct Vent Water Heaters
Before you go through with a direct vent water heater installation, you should know the pros and cons of these systems. These are outlined below. Consider them all in totality before you purchase one of these water heaters.
What Is a Standard Atmospheric Vent?
Standard atmospheric vent water heaters are what you’ll find in most homes, and these heaters vent exhaust through a system of vertical metal ducts until the exterior of the home is reached. The vent system that a standard atmospheric vent water heater utilizes can be shared by another atmospheric vent appliance—the most common one being a furnace.
The Pros and Cons of Standard Atmospheric Vents
Like direct vent water heaters, atmospheric vent water heaters have upsides and downsides. Since these water heaters have been around much longer than the direct vent systems which were already discussed, it’s well known what they can do.
Do Power Vents Have an Edge?
Power vent water heaters utilize an electric blower fan, and this fan is usually installed at the top of the water heater. Because of this fan, this water heater must be near an electrical outlet. The blower pushes exhaust and excess heat through the venting system, and venting can either be vertical or horizontal.
Related Questions
A power direct vent water heater goes great in a place that doesn’t have enough room for air-based combustion. These systems are also ideal for those who need flexibility and affordable installation. They utilize blower fans along with sideways ventilation.
Final Note
In the end, direct vent water heaters have a lot of good qualities that standard atmospheric vent water heaters don’t have, but this doesn’t mean these latter water heaters are ineffective. They can be quite effective in the right homes, but direct vent water heaters are more flexible—and this flexibility doesn’t come at the cost of efficiency.
How does a direct vent water heater work?
When using a direct vent water heater, water is heated by the heat of fuel combustion. A direct vent system typically results in lower water heating costs, because the exhaust gases are vented vertically, with no extra power required as is the case with the power vent water heater.
What is the difference between a direct vent and a power vent water heater?
Basically, the difference between the two is that the power vent water heater removes combustion gases from the atmosphere via ...
What is a power vent water heater?
Power Vent Water Heater. A power vent water heater uses a blower or fan to exhaust gases by pushing them through vent pipes that are horizontal. In some situations, this may be the only type of water heater that makes sense, because a chimney or vertical vent is not necessary.
Why is my water heater noisy?
Essentially, because the power vent requires a fan/blower to operate, the costs of heating water will be higher over the power vent’s life span . Noise is another disadvantage with a power vent, as there is a slight sound some homeowners notice when the blower or fan runs as the hot water heater is operating.
What are the drawbacks of a water heater?
However, the drawback to this type of water heater is the total cost considering the blower/fan portion of the vent requires electricity to operate, the cost of the actual blower or fan, and running a power line to the fan. Essentially, because the power vent requires a fan/blower to operate, the costs of heating water will be higher over ...
Can you vent a water heater through a chimney?
It could be that the location where you want to install your hot water heater is not near the chimney, or your home does not have a chimney. Either way, a power vent can be vented by simply running inexpensive pipe horizontally. However, the drawback to this type of water heater is the total cost considering the blower/fan portion ...
Do water heaters need a chimney vent?
Some locations don’t have access to a chimney or vertical vent, so your options are limited. The primary advantage of a power vent is that the water heater can be located in any area and does not require a vertical vent or chimney.
What is the venting system for a 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. The duct may be metal or plastic, depending on the type of vent system. Water heater ducts may lead directly outdoors, or they may tie into a larger vent duct that also serves a gas or propane furnace ...
What is direct vent?
Direct-vent systems essential ly "breathe" outdoor air, so they are not subject to the effects of backdrafting in the home. They also reduce the risk of accidental fires caused by flammable vapors around the water heater.
How does a direct vent system work?
With a direct-vent system, air for combustion is drawn from a vent pipe that runs through an exterior wall or the roof. Exhaust gases are vented outdoors through a separate vent duct or through a separate chamber of the same pipe (this requires a double-wall vent duct). Direct-vent systems essentially "breathe" outdoor air, so they are not subject to the effects of backdrafting in the home. They also reduce the risk of accidental fires caused by flammable vapors around the water heater.
What is the process of burning a water heater?
All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas require a venting system. 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, ...
Why is my water heater venting back?
Proper Venting Prevents Backdrafting. The most common problem associated with water heater venting is a condition called backdrafting, in which exhaust gases from the water heater fail to exit the home via the vent and instead end up in the house. Backdrafting can have many causes, but it is most commonly due to poor vent design or installation ...
How does a water heater work?
The system works solely through natural convection—based on the principle that hot air rises. Hot exhaust from the water heater naturally rises up through the vent and into the air outdoors, creating a draw that promotes this upward airflow. The power of the draw increases as the vent duct heats up.
Where does the air come from in a propane water heater?
In addition to venting, gas and propane water heaters need an air supply for combustion. This may come from the atmospheric air in the house, or it can come through a vent pipe that pulls air from the outdoors.
