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Posted by on July 31, 2007, 2:51 am
I am a new home owner. I have a 20 year old high efficiency furnace
that vents out the side of the house. My water heater still vents out
the chimney. When I bought the house the inspector told me that it's
not a good idea to have the water heater venting into the chimney by
itself. He said theres a chance the gases could roll back into the
basement. I have a carbon monoxide detector in my basement and it has
never alarmed in the year that I have lived there. Well, now my water
heater is leaking and it's time for a replacement. My question is,
should I replace it with a standard unit or should I buy a power
vented model that can be vented out the side of the house? If I do go
with the power vent, what should I do about the chimney? Just cap it
and let it be? I'd appreciate a second or even a third opinion.
Thanks.
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Posted by Geoman on July 31, 2007, 3:11 am
The inspector is correct, Even if the H2o tank is venting into an interior
chimney you can still damage it where it goes through the attic and out, the
bricks/liner never really get up to temp and this can cause the unit to not
vent and ruin the structure. I would like to see it 'lined', and by the time
you pay to have that done you may as well have a power vented system
installed. Also, the PV system can save you considerable energy over the
standard atmospheric draft unit.
>I am a new home owner. I have a 20 year old high efficiency furnace
> that vents out the side of the house. My water heater still vents out
> the chimney. When I bought the house the inspector told me that it's
> not a good idea to have the water heater venting into the chimney by
> itself. He said theres a chance the gases could roll back into the
> basement. I have a carbon monoxide detector in my basement and it has
> never alarmed in the year that I have lived there. Well, now my water
> heater is leaking and it's time for a replacement. My question is,
> should I replace it with a standard unit or should I buy a power
> vented model that can be vented out the side of the house? If I do go
> with the power vent, what should I do about the chimney? Just cap it
> and let it be? I'd appreciate a second or even a third opinion.
> Thanks.
>
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Posted by The Freon Cowboy on July 31, 2007, 7:06 am
"The inspector is correct, Even if the H2o tank is venting into an interior
chimney you can still damage it where it goes through the attic and out, the
bricks/liner never really get up to temp and this can cause the unit to not
vent and ruin the structure. I would like to see it 'lined', and by the time
you pay to have that done you may as well have a power vented system
installed. Also, the PV system can save you considerable energy over the
standard atmospheric draft unit."
Ditto !
>The inspector is correct, Even if the H2o tank is venting into an interior
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Posted by Bubba on July 31, 2007, 3:31 pm
wrote:
>The inspector is correct, Even if the H2o tank is venting into an interior
>chimney you can still damage it where it goes through the attic and out, the
>bricks/liner never really get up to temp and this can cause the unit to not
>vent and ruin the structure. I would like to see it 'lined', and by the time
>you pay to have that done you may as well have a power vented system
>installed. Also, the PV system can save you considerable energy over the
>standard atmospheric draft unit.
Could you please show me how adding a power vented water heater
compared to a standard atmospheric water heater will save you money?
Consider also that they cost almost double of what a standard water
heater costs (each time it gets replaced).
The OP "may" also consider going with an electric water heater.
Bubba
>>I am a new home owner. I have a 20 year old high efficiency furnace
>> that vents out the side of the house. My water heater still vents out
>> the chimney. When I bought the house the inspector told me that it's
>> not a good idea to have the water heater venting into the chimney by
>> itself. He said theres a chance the gases could roll back into the
>> basement. I have a carbon monoxide detector in my basement and it has
>> never alarmed in the year that I have lived there. Well, now my water
>> heater is leaking and it's time for a replacement. My question is,
>> should I replace it with a standard unit or should I buy a power
>> vented model that can be vented out the side of the house? If I do go
>> with the power vent, what should I do about the chimney? Just cap it
>> and let it be? I'd appreciate a second or even a third opinion.
>> Thanks.
>>
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Posted by Geoman on July 31, 2007, 5:29 pm
> wrote:
>>The inspector is correct, Even if the H2o tank is venting into an interior
>>chimney you can still damage it where it goes through the attic and out,
>>the
>>bricks/liner never really get up to temp and this can cause the unit to
>>not
>>vent and ruin the structure. I would like to see it 'lined', and by the
>>time
>>you pay to have that done you may as well have a power vented system
>>installed. Also, the PV system can save you considerable energy over the
>>standard atmospheric draft unit.
> Could you please show me how adding a power vented water heater
> compared to a standard atmospheric water heater will save you money?
> Consider also that they cost almost double of what a standard water
> heater costs (each time it gets replaced).
> The OP "may" also consider going with an electric water heater.
> Bubba
Sure Bubba, I will be happy to show you.
First, atmospheric systems are dependent 100% on draft, draft changes. The
best you can do with a typical atmospheric is 70% without a barometric
damper system. The PV you can control the draft over fire to obtain the
proper secondary air, thus, controlled efficiency.
Secondly, the newer AO Smiths that are power vented are MUCH higher
efficiency right out of the box, over 80%
Thirdly, when you consider the energy savings and the cost of the chimney
liner its almost a wash.
Now, if one uses a water softener and also changes the anode every year,
(Don't use Aluminum but Magnesium) the tank will last a very long time.
Rich
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> that vents out the side of the house. My water heater still vents out
> the chimney. When I bought the house the inspector told me that it's
> not a good idea to have the water heater venting into the chimney by
> itself. He said theres a chance the gases could roll back into the
> basement. I have a carbon monoxide detector in my basement and it has
> never alarmed in the year that I have lived there. Well, now my water
> heater is leaking and it's time for a replacement. My question is,
> should I replace it with a standard unit or should I buy a power
> vented model that can be vented out the side of the house? If I do go
> with the power vent, what should I do about the chimney? Just cap it
> and let it be? I'd appreciate a second or even a third opinion.
> Thanks.
>