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I am trying to get an answer on what is available for a natural gas hot water heater (tank, not instant/on demand type)that I can vent out the side of my house rather then up a chimney. I am replacing an electric so there is no venting at present. I have gone to the most reputable local plumbing shops and the big chains and no one can seems to do any more then read the labels to me, and that has not been enough info. Some have stated that I need one with an electric fan unit on top, and some have said I don’t because it is only going about three feet before exiting the house. Can anyone give me or send me to the information I need, brands and models would be great.
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Your town has codes...Call the inspector...In my area if the heater is next to the outside wall, then just vent outside...but not near windows above or to the side by so many feet.
The power vent heaters vent out the sidewall from a farther distance...They help with maintaining the draft in the flue. They work fine too and if you read the label, use just a little electric for the fan.
Make the call, then make the decision and let us know.
Near the stream,
aj
*A. O. Smith has a full line of direct vented water heaters, with and without mechanical assists (fans) and these can be piped a long way. They have a reasonably good website but don't sell direct to homeowners. I believe CombiCor also has a direct vent model. Just type "direct vent water heater" into your browser.The other question to consider is whether you want sealed combustion - fresh air from outside - or not. Direct vent water heaters come both ways - two way priping with exhaust and fresh air to outside or one way piping with exhaust from outside and fresh air from inside.Check DanHolohan.com or HeatingHelp.com and go to books section and you will find a small but useful book advertised on Water Heaters.
*Bradford-White also has a line of direct-vent HW heaters (the TTW1 and TTW2). If you go to http://www.bradfordwhite.comyou can get more specific information on them.
*Why not another electric, and be done with it?
*I went through this situation and ended up with the same answer as Lonecat- I just replaced the electric with another. A couple of things about power venters; depending on where the heater is located, the noise can be a problem. If it's adjacent to a living area this is something to keep in mind. Electricity: Like AJ was saying, they don't use much but that's not the real issue: they DO use electricity. If the power goes out, they WILL NOT fire up. In order for the burner to light there has to be a negative pressure in the flue- which of course is created by the fan. A good reason (in my opinion) to stay away from them and go with a direct vent sealed combustion model. Also, they're expensive. Sam
*Sam...At Lowes the powervents cost just a few dollars more and are inexpensive...And if the power goes out there will be hot water for hours and hours...And if the power goes out that long and you want to have power at all, then you own a generator with the heat, a couple of lights, the fridge, and the powervent all wired to the transfer breakers...Pete...I could set up the whole deal for a customer for the price of a generator plus a few hundred dollars.near the stream,aj
*I am in market for direct vent/sealed combustion for a super insulated, low ACH house. The water heater will also be used to run radiant heating system.AJ - tell us more about your suggestion.
*Aj- All your points taken although, out here in the west, those damn venters add about $300 to the price of the tank, what's that all about? We had a spell here a few years ago when the power was out for close to a week (nobody in the city had generators, maybe now after the Y2K fiasco) and having hot water was pretty nice for the people with gas H2O heaters. Still up for that Sam Adams? Sam
*Sam...I favor non-power vented myself but it all has to do with available locations and is site specific.And as for heat, it has been yakked so much here...I think the biggest thing is to decide what fuel source...Then if it is gas the water heater is a great choice for a real economical DIY solution...Using a heat exchanger, or using two heaters separately will both work fine...It really is much simpler than it is made out to be...Heat is basic and goes back to cave dwellers gathering around a fire...smoking the special cuts of plants and throwing the rest of the logs on the fire...near the stream in my cave by the fire with Mr. Adams at hand and Sam only a post away,aj
*Aj, Ditto on the non-power vent, me too. I have one on the furnace and while it works fine and provided a good solution with a cramped space, given the choice, I'd be without. Too damn much noise for my tastes. Speaking of taste, I think I'll indulge in a barley pop myself. Stayin' warm above all, Sam
*Off to the cooler myself...Could be trouble when the better half calls in though...just have to have a glass of wine ready at the door I guess!near the barley stream,ajtippin another with ya...in the cyberbar!
*OK AJ, those special cuts of plants might explain a lot to the rest :-)The question of power venting is relly a case by case decision. It depends on the location of the vent and back flow possibilities in the house. A vent on a windy wall or in a location with a sctong back eddy or draft needs power assist. Same goes with a house that has lots of negative pressure and leaking - exfiltration - through other openingsm due to stack and wind pressures. The other issue is with tightly sealed houses in that negative pressure is a design factor -- a fresh air vent, heat recovery unit, kitchen fan etc can suck the exhaust backwards to equalize the pressure.
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I am trying to get an answer on what is available for a natural gas hot water heater (tank, not instant/on demand type)that I can vent out the side of my house rather then up a chimney. I am replacing an electric so there is no venting at present. I have gone to the most reputable local plumbing shops and the big chains and no one can seems to do any more then read the labels to me, and that has not been enough info. Some have stated that I need one with an electric fan unit on top, and some have said I don't because it is only going about three feet before exiting the house. Can anyone give me or send me to the information I need, brands and models would be great.