Natural Draft Water Heater Venting Safety and Building Code Requirements

[@alangivens7983]

One of my employees sent me your video as part of his homework and at first, I thought another horrible video by yet another home inspector. Well sir you did a good job and I was impressed enough that I plan on watching more of your content and have subscribed. Good job, from a Master Plumber.

[@snort455]

me too

[@csl9495]

Thank you for this vid. I watched many water heater replacement vids and thought all I had to do was buy a new unit, swap out the unit and make a few connections. But I did not know I would have to be building a whole new venting situation and none of the water heater videos goes over it!

[@louflores6553]

Extremely professional. I am impressed by your knowledge and the manner in which you present it. Thank you.

[@AdnanKhan-ky3jp]

Thanks for sharing such a good information. I am replacing a natural vent water heater next week with a new NV heater and I will make sure that the installers are doing the right job.

[@zac3ne2nr]

Thanks for the clarity on the double wall and rise:run.

[@jobiet]

Thanks so much - exactly everything I needed to know. I learned a lot. You're awesome.

[@johngibbs7944]

Great video! Very well done!

[@ccwasson]

My new 40 gal. water heater is taller than my old 30 gal. one. Do I need to cut the vent pipe to install the new one or does the vent pipe slide upward to give me more space?

[@redsresearch]

how do you air seal and insulate that going thro the ceiling into the attic?

[@MLFranklin]

Lots of nice detail. Thanks for sharing this!

[@haydeelee23]

Is the vent for the hot water heater suppose to vent in the furnace

[@davidmcgill5835]

Thank you for a detailed explanation of proper installation. Suggestion is to show single wall to double wall proper interface, and should it be taped etc, also should the variable angle joints be taped after installation, and what type of tape should be used.

[@6789uiop]

You don't need a chimney, you can take the double wall B-vent to the outside of the house without a chimney. Just keep the B-vent 1" away from combustibles (wood).

[@PLAX84]

Can u vent a atmospheric water heater right out the side of the building or does it have to go to the chimney? And if the chimney is not working properly or collapse?

[@johnc4876]

What are the stack temperatures in a gas fired non condensing hot water heater?

[@xero0412]

There are no slots or holes on the top of my water heater, can I drill on the top to secure the hood

[@wildamerican2771]

Can you do a side vent on these?

[@l.crossjr]

Great. Learned so much

[@nojokeauto]

so why does there need to be a air gap between the tank and the draft hood? why cant u elimate the legs and have it sealed ?

[@Thomas63r2]

In the video he says it is to keep a windy strong backdraft from extinguishing the water heater flame.

[@nojokeauto]

@@Thomas63r2 A lot of science right there

[@ironwill04]

Can your water heater vent be vented into thr furnace vent?

[@reneezee9654]

Some say that my roof supports should be cut so the metal vent pipe doesn't come within an inch of wood. Who would allow a plumber to cut into roof supports?? What are the options to reduce heat to the wood without compromising the structure of the house by chopping into a roof support beam?

[@Checkthishouse]

Renee Zee Well... it's difficult to produce just one answer based on your description, simply because there are multiple variables that might affect this answer. The safest suggestion would be to put an offsetting connector on your vent pipe. You'd just need to incorporate that offset into the vent pipe calculations. There could be a few other options but without evaluating roof framing and positioning of all venting system components I can't really give you any.

[@6789uiop]

Never cut engineered trusses. Avoid cutting any framing without an engineer review. So it's easiest and cheapest to route duct around, or away from, framing members.

[@jeffb8437]

Put on a taller roof

[@gearhead0800]

Hi, my brother has a 120,000 btu/hr, steam boiler that his installer fitted with a round diverter. This diverter has a large diameter "skirt" which is sitting on an angle due to the 3inch steam pipe which is living there. It is tight to the top of the boiler but I don't like the look of it. Can I remove this diverter and install an oblong open vent right after the first elbow in the breeching to do the same job? I am a refrigeration tech and not up on the code requirement. Thank You

[@Checkthishouse]

+gearhead0800 Hi, I would check boiler’s installation manual for positioning of the diverter. The design of this particular boiler may not allow alterations of its venting system and I don’t know if the installer did what you described because it was convenient or required. Give me the brand / model, maybe I’ll find something helpful if you don’t have the manual.

[@gearhead0800]

+Home Maintenance Thanks for getting back to me. As I mentioned I am a tech. myself and I am 100% certain that the installer just leaned the exhaust to the side because the 3 inch steam line was in the way. He did not want to reroute this steam pipe around the diverter so he just tipped the exhaust about 15 degrees to the left to miss the pipe. I don't know how to send a scanned sketch to you unless I had an e-mail address. It's easier to see then to explain.

[@Checkthishouse]

+gearhead0800 it's [e-mail] / send me its brand and model number

[@1weirddoe571]

My 3" gas water heater goes to b vent 6" for 25 feet up since 30k BTUs I would like to have last 5' at 3" out metal roof. Such a big 9' hole out to metal roof 12/ 12 pitch so I'd rather have 3 in so less water that might have leaked in. Resistance is smaller a 6" throughout the majority of the line so I shouldn't have a problem going from 6" back to 3" because that's better than a 3" the whole 30' length. Right?? So the whole system the way I want to do it going from 3 to 6 to 3 would have a lot less resistance and just a 3 the whole way. So why can't you reduce or can you reduce all I hear is people say you can't reduce you can't reduce you'll go to hell if you reduce.

[@ImDaBadGuy]

Im just some guy but you would end up with the same resistance if the pipe outlet is 3" regardless if you have 6" in between. Kind of pointless. In fact it may hurt the drafting

[@ronroberts8036]

@@ImDaBadGuy A reducer could cause more resistance due to the turbulence created when the flue gases meet the reducer. Another factor to consider is that the gases slow down in the 6" pipe and THEN encounter the reducer. For these reasons, installing a 6" line between two 3" lines creates more restriction possibilities than a single 3" vent.

[@ImDaBadGuy]

@@ronroberts8036 exactly.

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

I have a waterheater vent pipe that is touching insulation what should I do?

[@MR-nl8xr]

+Everything. You are going to have to Reinstall the Vent pipe to take a direction that puts it at least 6'' away from that said insulation, with that same vent pipe or a newer vent pipe. Or remove the insulation, it's up to you and your wallet.

[@MR-nl8xr]

Does this video cover Vent Piping Installation requirements per code in California 2017.

[@Checkthishouse]

It's based on IRC (international Residential Code) and UPC (Universal Plumbing Code), you always have to check your local building code requirements to ensure compliance.

[@MR-nl8xr]

+Home. Thanks.

[@damon123jones]

awesome thanks