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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.
Do all tankless water heaters require venting?
No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.
Can I use existing vent for tankless water heater?
For the same reason you can’t vent a tankless water heater with a furnace, you won’t be able to use the existing vent pipe from an old gas tank water heater. The existing vent for tankless water heaters is not compatible because most are galvanized vent piping and will rust quickly.
Can you vent a tankless water heater with PVC?
In most cases, PVC makes a great venting material. It’s the least expensive option and is easy to install. And it’s a good reason to consider a high-efficiency condensing unit.
How far can a tankless water heater be vented?
Indoor Installations A tankless water heater requires a 4-foot clearance from the side or below a door or window that opens, unless the unit is directly vented to the outside. If the water heater is installed above the door or window, it needs 12 inches of clearance.
Does a tankless gas water heater need a vent?
Installing a tankless water heater outside frees up indoor space and requires no additional venting. 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.
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. 1/NFPA 54 in the United States and/or Section 7 of the CAN/CSA B149.
Can I vent a water heater out the wall?
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 you vent a tankless water heater in the attic?
Simply put, as long as there is enough combustion air provided, tankless water heaters can be installed in any area of your home, from a utility room to a garage to, yes, even an old, dusty attic.
Can you put a power vent on a regular water heater?
Natural gas or propane hot water heaters are generally less expensive to operate than electric heaters, but installing a standard vent in a house without an existing chimney is expensive. It’s easier to run the vent if you install a “power-vented” type of natural gas (or propane) water heater.
Is it normal to smell gas from a tankless water heater?
Tankless gas water heaters are not designed to release gases even when they are operating. If you smell gas from a tankless water heater, it means there is a leak somewhere, which you need to get fixed out immediately. A tankless water heater will give out gas-only when there is a gas leak or incomplete combustion.
How high does a water heater vent need to be?
For a single-wall pipe, you need 6″ clearance, and you cannot pass it through a ceiling, floor, or wall unless it’s masonry or concrete (non-combustible). For the draft hood connection, you need to allow for at least 12″ of vertical vent before throwing an elbow fitting in the line.
Does a tankless water heater have to be mounted on an outside wall?
Mount the Water Heater Tankless gas water heaters are direct-vent only. This means they need to be piped directly to the outside and not through a chimney. Due to their efficiency, the flue gas temperature on a tankless system is too low to vent through a conventional masonry chimney.
How much room is needed for a tankless water heater?
The unit heats the water as long as this is open. When it is closed, the tankless unit stops heating the water. It is true that tankless water heaters do not require a lot of space. A large unit requires an area no larger than 24 inches square and ex- tends from the wall by about 8 to 10 inches.
Can furnace and water heater share vent?
Most homes have a shared vent (serving both the furnace + water heater) when the furnace efficiency is up to 80% (which is today’s standard efficiency gas furnace). A High-E furnace has separate venting. So, the existing vent pipe is too large for proper venting and must be replaced with one of a smaller dimension.
How should a gas water heater be vented?
The venting must be vertical or upward sloping so that the hot exhaust rises up through the venting to exit your home. Making sure that your home has a properly working vent system is imperative when installing a standard atmospheric vent with your water heater.
Does water heater vent pipe need to be double wall?
Direct-Vent Water Heaters 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).
How far can you vent a direct vent water heater?
Minimum clearances between the water heater and combustible and noncombustible construction are: 0 inches from sides, 0 inches from back, 4 inches from front of jacket to closet door and 3 inches from top of jacket to combustible and noncombustible ceiling. Minimum vent clearance: 0 inches.
