Extremely Dangerous - Water Heater CONVERTED to a Power Vented - DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

[@SickCashOutTrendTrader]

If i find the power vent EQ for under $200 I will copy this. Thanks for confirming it works.. Power vent is just a blower motor set up with the hot water tank circuit. so as long as my CFM is good. I will use CPVC and glue 636pipe, secure it the the top. as you tested it works correctly.. its just not made from the factory like that. its a better option, unless you need a new hot water tank.. than just go buy a new hot water tank thats power vented.

[@PipeDoctor]

Thanks for posting

[@matthieuboulianne678]

This video shows what you pay for when you hire a true professional. Mikey Pipes isn't in to replace everything or charge for stuff that isn't broken, but to correctly diagnose the issue and to properly fix it. This only comes with experience and proper training. Keep up the good work

[@kenthomas4668]

Since it didn't melt the pvc piping perhaps the main difference is just the inducer motor venting addition. Mixing all that extra air must cool it down enough to work. I wouldn't do it but still it was working.

[@johnem712]

Without that extra air the pipe would be far worse than discolored.

[@grumpygenx]

In Ontario Canada as a tradesman with a gas fitter license we are obligated Red Tag , turn the gas off to the water heater and report this to the TSSA who govern our gas licences.The person who did this would be in big trouble in Ontario

[@otownf1503]

You're right about that. That would be an immediate hazard here in Ontario. I'm a gas technician in this province and haven't seen anything like that yet.

[@RJ9mech]

This is where there are differences in priorities, and where the line is set between safety and regulation. We just may have different opinions, and that's ok. Have fun in Ontario, ehhh 😁

[@robertsitch1415]

In general different governments have different priorities. We also have an agency called Electrical Safety Authority handling all of Ontario's electrical inspections too.

[@matthewfasullo4983]

Unreal

[@Purifiedinfire]

Probably was a handyman or homeowner not a licensed tech

[@leoreyes6157]

I'm 9 years old once be big man I came like you thank you happy holidays I wash your videos from el salvador 🇸🇻

[@roshi98]

I'm 53 and too old to become a plumber, but if I had gone into it when I was younger THIS is the guy I'd want to apprentice with.

[@rogerwhiting9310]

Me too

[@jamesrecknor6752]

64 and still wrestling water heaters full time. Started at 53. Give it a try friend.

[@dc6233]

I never ever thought I could just stuff a power vent on top of a standard venting gas water heater, guess I learned a new trick... I'll be sure to epoxy the joint though 🤣

[@chrismallory3718]

Thats a new one to me, ive seen a powervent swapped out for natural draft and tied the pvc into the diverter using a feenco

[@Hubjeep]

2:56 You don't have to be an engineer to diagnose a heating system! :rolleyes:

[@Duetmaster2]

That was just a tad condescending 🙃

[@Hubjeep]

@@Duetmaster2 Exactly, like an electrician that says "leave it to the pros" when a homeowner wants to replace a switch or a few lights.

[@comodrone49]

It would be a decent video if “Mikey Pipes” want such an arrogant jerk to people. Wow… 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@stolisworld]

@@comodrone49 STFU. If you don’t like my attitude go Fcuk off

[@smokestrong1000]

@@Hubjeep Rewired my entire house from knob and tube to romex and all inspected by the city to pass the permits for it and had zero experience. Doing electrical work is literally just running wire pretty much. What this guy is doing is much more complicated. I wouldn't mess around with anything gas.

[@GunpowderMechanical]

Wow, just literally had a phone call from an old apprentice who was looking at a similar problem. You shadowing me Mikey Pipes?!

[@donaldclark1872]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Mikey Pipes!! Very much appreciated!! Professionalism at its finest once again

[@Brazda25]

Dude you seriously talk to your customers like that? You’re still in business? haha!

[@RockoRocko-rz7kx]

Next I’m going to make me a furnace out of a washer machine and a microwave

[@snidelywhiplash8923]

What was the outcome with the furnace?

[@ChipKragt]

No lie, I (homeowner) almost made the same mistake. I was searching online for a retrofit fan for my water heater (it had been orphaned in my chimney) and couldn't find one for my model. Called an HVAC friend for advice and I got schooled just like this poor homeowner. Luckily, I hadn't started any work yet.

[@AFi_Kas]

Mikey Pipes, your a true Hero bro. And big inspiration! Im from Staten island New york. Maybe one day i meet you somewhere in the 5 boroughs lol

[@PipeDoctor]

thank you so much!

[@mikecrevier4686]

Like who in there right mind would even attempt this type of field modified water heater installation. I've seen alot things on this channel but WOW. Coming from Ontario with a governing body this is just off the wall crazy. Thanks Pipes for the content

[@ronblack7870]

i had an official power vented heater one time in another house. we had it put in because there was no chimney and previous was electric . so the blower connects to the diverter so it sucks in regular air plus exhaust air then it vented through a flexible blower hose out the wall about 6 feet away. this was in ontario . done by a licensed plumber back in 1987. it was even inspected by the gas company.

[@Timothyrucker12]

Can I vent my natural gas water heater directly outside without a power vent I was thinking about deleting the chimney

[@Timothyrucker12]

@@PipeDoctor some hack installed are dryer hose in are chimney is that dangerous

[@docdat3468]

Here the technician would have to call the fire department there send out a special unit to secure this equipment and tag it out if not the technician would make him self legally viable for not contacting the authorities

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

With a power vented water heater, what "lowers the temperature of the exhaust" compared to a traditional direct vent water heater (which gets very hot!) that makes it safe for use with PVC?

[@laker3]

The air that it is sucking in behind the power venter mixes with the hot gases cooling the gases before going into the pvc. He was putting his phone over that area that it sucks in room air that is used to cool the hot gases.

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

@@laker3 I suppose so. The draft assembly on a non-power vented unit doesn't draw enough air to cool I assume, a natural draft doesn't blow/suck as hard as the fan. I always wondered if these water heaters had a secondary heat exchanger in them like a high efficiency furnace does which basically has very little heat leaving the furnace (could put face over exhaust and not get burnt!) Too bad there isn't a way to add an outdoor air intake for these water heaters. I like the ability of fully sealed high efficiency furnaces not creating drafts with pulling combustion air from within the dwelling but rather directly from the outdoors.

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

@@PipeDoctor Is the exhaust hotter than a typical 90%+ furnace?

[@mfbfreak]

So what are the risks of converting it to power vented? I'm an electronics guy but always interested. My first thought is 'The flue temperature of an passively vented one is necessarily much higher to create the draft, which can overheat PVC pipes'. Aside from the excessively lean burn by drawing too much oxygen through the regulator/mixer. The fact that it's just sitting on top of there is ridiculous. I'm used to hermetically sealed central heating + water combined boilers. Both the air inlet and the exhaust go through the roof or side of the house, and due to the condensing system, the flue gas is cold enough to send through plastic pipes.

[@rollenschultz2707]

In our area we had somebody on vacation and their hot water heater misfunction and it blew the house right off the foundation how water heaters can be dangerous

[@WRLoco]

This homeowner cannot answer questions. Brutal

[@steveporter6627]

Go easy on the clients. They’re not schooled in hwt and venting. Wow

[@MegaNormanne]

Hey Mikey, greetings from Germany. I am a plumber myself. I just recently found your channel. I wonder when i see this video, isn`t there a City Inspector coming to see the work someone does at a gas installation, too see if it`s up to the standards? We have to inform the city that we made a change to the gas pipes and then an incspector comes out and checks it out. And can anyone open a Plumper company? We over here have too do a 3,5 year training, where u get a diploma and a "Gesellenbrief", wich allows you to work as a Plumber. And then you have to attend the Master School for another 1 year of fulltime school and a fee of ~10.000€.

[@iheartageplay6314]

What a great idea!!!!! Thanks

[@Casmige]

Love it when Mikey pipes drops the mic

[@danobrien3109]

Can’t believe that someone actually rig that thing up to work like that. TSSA would have this guy fined take away his license and likely have him put in jail. Any mechanic here in Ontario would have to shut down that unit and report it. I understand you don’t have that authority in New York State but you should have. The old hvac guy in Toronto.👍🇨🇦

[@dumpableaccount]

Yeah, I’d argue your TSSA point. My daughter had a replacement furnace installed in Welland Ontario. The installer didn’t install the aircon, tying a rope to it to suspend it from the ceiling. The exhaust pipe had two little blobs of sealant applied instead of fully sealing it, multiple holes in the ducting and generally an unsafe hack job. Subcontractor for HD in Niagara Falls. I sent a complete description with pics to the TSSA and they didn’t even bother looking at it. Said that they prefer to have installers “self regulate”. The installers boss said that the shmuck was running late to go on vacation so he left the job for someone else to complete. They patched it in the end but the slob also damaged a stone feature wall that he’d been told not to go through.

[@danobrien3109]

@@dumpableaccount that is unfortunate. TSSA would only regulate fuel safety on an installation. That means the gas code regulations. The venting would fall under that as well as the gas piping. The duct work is the responsibility of the HVAC inspector. By the sound of it your daughters renovations were done without permits. Air conditioning isn’t under the purview of TSSA either. That would fall under the College of Trades.

[@sketchyweekend4503]

I see abs venting painted white all over the city of Toronto (or the infamous sys636 90 at the terminatio, but abs painted white for everything else). CSST directly connected to unsupported meters. All on major streets right in the open. TSSA doesn't care.

[@danobrien3109]

@@sketchyweekend4503 I know what your saying and I agree. The problem I see with TSSA is the same as with gun registration. The only ones caught are the licensed ones. The yahoos that aren’t licensed don’t follow the rules because they aren’t monitored. They know just enough to be dangerous and not enough to do it properly .

[@terrytuepah171]

@@danobrien3109 I gave up even taking to the TSSA, it seems they have become all about the money un less they can charge there over inflated prices to a company or gas fitter they want nothing to do with a bad installation. Called them about fitness Depto selling crapy Chinese fire pits not approved for install in Canada. Customer could not get his money back and called me I informed TSSA about the problem guy wanted me to do all leg work and go buy one and get the receipt basically do my own investigation on them ?? Wtf? I said if you don’t care why should I.

[@jwchicano]

Never seen that before. Surprised that pvc hasn't melted.

[@springtimeplumbing6240]

Reminds me of the one I found a few years back. Originally had been a power vent, with the corrugated plastic venting used on it. Someone, working for a licensed plumbing contractor, had replaced it with an atmospheric vent, and hooked it up to the corrugated. Even worse, the vent took a turn downward before it went out the roof. So the water heater was dumping all of it's combustion gas into the attic it was in. It had melted the plastic rings around the hot/cold connections on top of the water heater. But wait, there's more! It was located right next to a second floor bedroom, with the service access door opening into that bedroom. Thankfully, the door had weatherstripping seals that kept the gas in the attic.

[@scotts4125]

What are the chances for Zeldin? Fingers crossed here.

[@sheltdog8463]

Sometimes thinking outside the box will actually put you in the box!

[@danielwarfield1027]

Interesting. Takagi on-demands units call for using high temperature silicon (RTV) to seal vent piping if needed. But this looks pretty ghetto lol.

[@benjaminday3868]

What was the fix on the boiler?

[@PipeDoctor]

Replacement

[@dougabrahamsen2952]

The Ethernet wire is probably 24 gauge where t stat wire starts at 18. Great move changing that

[@edcicione]

Hi Mikey, im sure you didn't notice or you would have mentioned it. The control on the boiler is an 8148 that's made for an oil burner it has a 120volt B1 terminal. Someone added that transformer to the bottom to drop the voltage to 24vots for the burner circuit. I dont really see a problem with doing so because there is no flue damper on the system. What are your thoughts about doing that?

[@kg4muc]

What a rig 😅. Power vented atmospheric vented water heater. Gotta love the pvc transition

[@williammorris3303]

I have no idea how that venting unit is functioning. That scares the shit out of me. More scary than that I would have noticed the caulk and been disgusted but I wouldn’t have even caught that the unit was an atmospheric unit rigged up

[@jaredstark231]

So they installed an induced draft heater?

[@thewhizard]

what was wrong with the furnace?

[@michaelmead5880]

I thought I’ve seen it all. 😬 as severe as this water heater situation is, you can’t help but laugh and shake your head.

[@combatrock3069]

Looks like a job from hell. I’d be embarrassed to call someone professional to try to fix what even an amateur ought to know isn’t right.

[@justinhayward5027]

Good content man. Keep it up. Learning a lot from you as a home onwer. A lot of this hvac is the same in vehicles. Controlled and functions. Just different parts. I’m auto technician out in Suffolk.

[@rustyshakleford5230]

They didn't silicone the power venter housing to the top of the water heater? They must have run out of silicone

[@AgentOffice]

So what was the problem

[@Vinlyguyx420x]

YIKES! How can someone know enough to be able to jerry rig it, yet not know enough when it comes to the proper way and materials chosen? Like wtf man?!

[@briannanojr8461]

That water heater is something else

[@nosaya3]

That water heater needs a mr. yuck sticker.

[@rockpadstudios]

crap how did he fix the upstairs heat?

[@rockpadstudios]

@@PipeDoctor thanks

[@franklopez8243]

I'm no detective but it seems the home owner did all the work

[@PipeDoctor]

Appears to be the case

[@fivestar2227]

That is hvac mastic not silicone caulk and "upgrading" if you can call it that from draft to power is perfectly acceptable in the industry although a rarity. Those plastic beauty rings that some water heater manufactures have been adding are prone to melting when someone takes a shower with the bathroom fan running while the clothes dryer is running in a modern sealed home. The best option is to install a good quality air exchanger to the home to avoid those vacuum situations.

[@PipeDoctor]

Thanks for sharing

[@kevinfoster2308]

Is that common up there to have an air handler pulling return air from utility room?

[@rebus570]

To alter a piece of equipment like that most likely will void warranty & leave whose finger prints are on it open for some jail time if it kills someone

[@KarenBrewerShi]

What happens when u buy a water heater but need it to be power vented ..?

[@ItsTheCostanza]

Did a troll do this previous install?

[@scottmaz4063]

I still have that brand new triple aquastat if you want it. That ones demand. Mine maintains 180deg and the reverse would be on 160. That's so the circ won't come on until 160. Better control

[@Jason-wc3fh]

Insane. An atmospheric water heater is designed in a way that a naturally occurring draft is allowing the products of combustion to escape under a particular window of low negative inches WC. The entire burner assembly and air requirements, right up to the end of the tanks flue passage are designed specifically for this... Changing this by putting a forced draft mechanical inducer motor in place of the draft hood completely changes the process of the burner flame and design of that water heater. I would also bet it renders the limit switch useless as the higher negative pressure wouldn't allow it to ever trip off, Absolutely ridiculous. It almost certainly changed the efficiency of the water heater and likely made it much worse.

[@webstertreehopper]

Thank you for this explanation. No where in the video did he explain what you just said. I need to understand. Thanks.

[@SerenoOunce]

Not arguing setup is illegal. And installer obviously wasn't a pro but did have some foresight in the setup to make it as safe as possible. So how exactly is a direct and power vent unit built any different beyond the fan bolted up top (and obvious failsafe components) where it would make any practical difference.

[@PipeDoctor]

ask an engineer who designs power vented heaters and let me know.

[@dano8410]

I feel that water heater was a homeowner installation special not by anyone else

[@jamesrecknor6752]

As a certified master hackman, I was impressed.

[@spykillergames8402]

either someone thought that CO wasnt an issue or powered heaters are too much effort to wire up....

[@PipeDoctor]

I guess you’re correct

[@chriscurran416]

Doesnt the now conversion from natural draft to power cause flame lift on the burner 🙈

[@xj31]

I had to subscribe after this. Not only are you a true pro and I can see you aren't out to screw anyone, You're pretty damn entertaining. I always thought A.O. Smith water heaters were supposed to be pretty decent, so some knucklehead had enough sense to supply a good unit but then the butchery they did just amazes me

[@theodorgiosan2570]

There are (or were) retrofit power venters for water heaters. The ones I've seen around here have an additional solenoid valve in the gas line and pressure switch just like this one. They are code around here. Some even have an entire new gas valve and control box that eliminates the pilot assembly and converts to HSI or DSI. The other popular thing to do here is to order a Bock oil fired water heater "less burner" and install with a Carlin EZ-GAS burner, outside air boot, and external power venter. But as I always say, why buy a tank that will rust out. They are obsolete, and they are expensive for what you get. You are better off with a used tankless than a rust-o-matic tank. You are better off with a cheap Chinese tankless like an EZ-Tankless or similar, at a similar price to a tank.

[@PipeDoctor]

No, absolutely not. Field Controls makes a conversion for an atmospheric venting boiler but not for a water heater.

[@northernliving2387]

thank you Mikey for your teaching us... you need to get a sticker made that said "Danagerous not compliant to code"

[@mattbuckmeier5161]

There’s a video of whoever the homeowner had come in to replace the water heater!! Like 6 days ago

[@nolinnesmith260]

where did you get those "do not remove this tag" at? looking for those for my company and using them on gas furnaces

[@peterking1134]

Are they going to address the water heater problem??

[@BartlettTFD]

“You learn something new every day” Unfortunately, it’s something you hope to never see again😂. Carbon monoxide, the silent killer‼️ Thanks for another great video👍

[@rogerwhiting9310]

So what happens to the dangerous water heater problem? Did you fix the problem...looks like replacing with a power venting water heater? Is there an obligation to call the utility company...or the fire dept?

[@rogerwhiting9310]

@Mikey Pipes - Pipe Doctor Plumbing & Heating & Air are the Naviens kept out of the photos now?

[@LearnPlumbing]

Like pulling teeth trying to get all the info from the client sometimes. Excellent job pulling out all the facts before getting started. Gettem talking keepem talking.

[@thewaterheaterfactory]

I've converted power vent to standard atmospheric , but never the other way around.

[@swampy4701]

Would love to know, why did you ask if he was an engineer? Thanks for the content!

[@trebrehenuf]

Whatever a man can conceive he can achieve.

[@mitchdenner9743]

Why is it called a tridicator if it only measures two things? Tri means three , no? Whats the vac setting on the water heater?

[@edcicione]

Vacation

[@mitchdenner9743]

@@edcicione thanks bud, just an honest question. Was hoping mikey would answer me, considering I'm a subscriber, and supporting his channel by regularly commenting. Seems his head is swelled up from all the youtube success and is to good for us now.😪

[@edcicione]

As mike mentioned in the video it was missing a hand, not all gauges have the 3rd hand anymore but when there a 3 pointers the 3rd. One was for feet or Altitude.(how many feet the water go up to.)

[@machone1757]

Unbelievable Water Heater Conversion, That Person Who did That should be In Prison Lucky the People did not get Poisoned or the House Blown Up

[@thefathvacguy6341]

Just watched Daniels video doing the change out of the water heater... unbelievable...I'd break his knee caps

[@thefathvacguy6341]

@@PipeDoctor The guy that installed that water heater like that...not Daniel. Wow that came out wrong lol.

[@rogereprest]

Mr Pipie ill bet that cobb job water heater use twice as much gas to run It sucking all the btu out or heater Not bad

[@williamserver4332]

Man that was shady. I actually saw a gas water heater that was worse. It was a conventional unit vented into flexible plastic dryer vent. No safety switches. The hack ventor just ran 24/7.

[@williamserver4332]

@@PipeDoctor that was the first video I saw that you posted and I thought it was fake. I couldn't believe someone could vent a dryer with a water heater. Unreal

[@kevin7151]

As always, excellent detailed video with expert commentary. I actually have the very same water heater installed October 2021. It replaced its older cousin, a 14 year old AO Smith unit. Question I have is why would someone change an atmospheric unit to a power vented one? I realize this implementation is dangerous and improperly done, but is the upcharge for a power vented one actually worth the incremental cost?

[@walkingfreak]

Because hacks like that are too ignorant to try and do it the correct way and think that their way is the right way and see no problems at all.

[@kevin7151]

@@walkingfreak I agree Matthew. Scary thing is that the homeowner pays the bill and thinks things are left in good order. Wondering your thoughts on the value of power vented units versus traditional atmospheric ones? Stay well my friend,

[@walkingfreak]

@@kevin7151 it's not the value or anything it's a matter of the situation presented to you. If it requires a power venter because no vent was ran out of the roof then that's the way it has to be. But typically atmospheric vented ones are quite a bit cheaper than the power vented ones.

[@kevin7151]

@@walkingfreak Thank you for your feedback, most appreciated.

[@johnem712]

Who needs a code book to realize that plastic pipe is not designed to handle flue gas on an older style water heater?

[@PipeDoctor]

Exactly but someone installed it anyway

[@johnem712]

I had a chimney that would have cost around $13,000 to replace last fall. Instead I wanted a Tgjnerlund draft inducer installed on my 80% gas boiler and water heater. Draft inducers are very uncommon or unheard of in my area. Most contractors in my area are totally unaware of draft inducers especially in homes. What many consider one of the best plumbing and heating contractors insisted that using plastic as the flue pipe material was somehow permitted. No amount of arguing could change their mind. I am a mechanical engineer with a minor in electrical engineering and very extensive field experience. I ended up taking time off from work and doing my own installation using metal and maintaining the proper clearances to combustibles. I sincerely hope no one dies because of the misconceptions some in the industry might have.

[@zachosborne6577]

That looks like a draft vent motor for a furnace

[@Dinomitsios]

Not to mention it’s not rated for the exhaust temperature of that atmosphere

[@petem6291]

This is one for the record books the guy that did this job wasn’t a dummy I just don’t understand how it could’ve been profitable for him it took a lot of engineering and time to do all that conversion work. He also probably didn’t realize that Direct vent hot water heaters are internally vented completely different so the exhaust gas does not get that hot. I’m wondering if the homeowner just took the lowest price he was given ????

[@jonmpb578]

If that "power vented" water heater is jerry rigged like that, and unsafe, wouldn't you have to shut it off & disconnect the gas or something similar?

[@rustyshakleford5230]

Never seen that before.

[@Longeno55]

Great catch on the caulked water heater vent pipe. What about the boiler's expansion tank being installed sideways? I thought that code indicated that those need to be installed vertically, either connected to pipe facing up or hanging down. I'm curious, because I see them both ways even in new construction. Love your videos!

[@Mark5mith]

On its side it's more hassle to work with and a Legionella risk, which doesn't apply here, I had to change one recently as it was, I'd agree though , it really should be upright.

[@Peter-td3yk]

Stow road massachuttes toll bros never connect return ducts...when floor joists used as a return only metal where you see it. Behind cross over ducting no metal to close floor joists return..just reach right up..numerious return registers attached to nothing. Hugh one in living room was filled with insulation and not connected..many more too..what did toll do added a power Venter for outside air. So water heater would still operate... wyh super hot or cold air into basement drawn right into heat a.c. system.. remember returns to system not enclosed... toll bros couldn't make a home if their life depended on it.. then the curved arch window over front door the ssholes used 100% silicone product.not paintable on wood trim large gaps no backing rod on brick too. . the master bath brokern tile at base of shower doors of course it leaked... pissed me off.. floor tiles failed tap test..how I knew.. in office area they caulked floating panel doors for built-ins..of course it seperated..they float morons.. doors I rehung just about every one.. house over 4k feet lots of doors.. this is bringing me to a bad place,I need to stop..this was only the tip... this home had every add on toll did.. just a dose of angry reality....

[@chrisdigital]

Holy geez!

[@SirJeep]

Can't you RED tage that water heater and lock it down as dangerous? Not to use until fixed........

[@youngrav2311]

Hahaha wow! Who the hell is this plumber 😂

[@PipeDoctor]

Ray Charles

[@ronblack7870]

so does the blower run all the time.? if so only thing that is unsafe is there is no air pressure switch to detect whether the blower is actually running and creating draft.

[@johnem712]

No the blower does not run constantly. There is a sensor that turns it on when the gas valve opens.

[@Moondoggy1941]

Handyman, homeowners oh my. It can get really scary.

[@macrinier3468]

Immediate red tag. Once you find it. You have to tag it. It sucks. But better saving the customer's life than to keep that thing in service

[@joshuaseaton4526]

That stuff just sickens me. Somehow those guys are able to sleep at night putting others to sleep.

[@GothRocker7]

Hey Mike, I have seen that before, power vent with caulk connecting the exhaust, people are insane, whenever I see that I red tag that appliance and turn it off, sadly many people curse me out and say once I leave they are going to turn it back on, but I then tell them, I have a clear conscience, I did my job, and I can sleep good at night. If something happens to you, it is your fault, you signed the red tag in a court of law that is all that matters. People are idiots.

[@lambition]

I wonder what their old water heater was. I never seen power vent water heater setup using pressure switch to sense it operating. Don't all power vent turn fan on first, then control board ignite burner later? How is this 'guy' has enough knowledge to modify water heater, but not know power vent water heater is supposed to go there?.. I have seen some one replaced power vent water heater that was vented right outside of the wall with atmospheric vented water heater by replacing PVC with galvanized duct, then put aluminum vent cover like ones you use for bathroom fan. Some how it had enough draft to not kill anyone. I also have seen condensing furnace installed onto atmospheric vent. It was dripping condensation like crazy, but some hot haven't killed anyone it being used for past 10 years..

[@mimelio]

What a cob job!!! Why would anyone do that it's is insanely dangerous? That whole house can die of carbon monoxide poisoning in their sleep. If the gas company saw that they would tag it and shut it down. I have seen it where they shut off the entire gas service for less than that.

[@josephguido7902]

Yikes........ That's No Bueno!!!!