Gas Water Heater Venting Requirements

In addition to venting gas and propane water heaters need an air supply for combustion.

Gas water heater venting requirements.

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. Failure to properly in stall the venting system can result in asphyxiation a fire or explo sion and can cause death serious bodily injury or property damage. Ventilation requirements for natural gas water heater it depends on where the water heater is. To test for proper water heater venting.

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. This may come from the atmospheric air in the house or it can come through a vent pipe that pulls air from the outdoors. Allow water heater to run continuously for 10 minutes. Proper venting gas and propane heaters emit carbon monoxide which must be vented outside.

How to know a gas water heater is venting safely. The natural gas fueled water heater shown at page top is improperly vented lacking the recommended minimum 12 of vertical rise before the elbow and vented directly into a large masonry flue where it cannot develop adequate draft. This heater installation may be unsafe. Run enough hot water for the water heater start heating.

It cannot be connected to an existing vent pipe or chim ney. This heater installation may be unsafe. These vents must be made of suitable materials and be kept clear of combustible materials. Sediment trap many locations require a sediment trap to be installed as close to the gas inlet as possible.

If in the home and drawing air from the home then the door should probably be sealed with weather stripping and combustion air brought in from the attic with a pipe just abobe floor level. If water heater and a gas furnace share the same vent reduce the thermostat setting for the furnace so it does not run during the test. The blower pushes the exhaust and excess heat through the exhaust venting. The power vent water heater requires its own separate venting system.