Natural gas or propane hot water heaters are generally less expensive to operate than electric heaters, but installing a standard vent in a house without an existing chimney is expensive. It’s easier to run the vent if you install a “power-vented” type of natural gas (or propane) water heater.

Can you put a power vent on any hot water heater?

A direct vent system pulls in air from outside and then vents the exhaust through a horizontal pipe. This difference in operation means that you can install a direct vent system almost anywhere, but a power vented water heater must be placed in a room with adequate airflow.

How much does it cost to install a power vent water heater?

Power Vent Water Heater Installation Cost An installed power vent water heater averages $1,050 to $5,000. They have more moving parts and require electricity to vent. Even if you use gas to heat your water, your water heater requires electricity to work.

Why do I need a power vent on my gas water heater?

Power direct vents are used when the space in which you are installing a water heater lacks sufficient air for combustion and requires flexibility around the installation. Consult a professional plumbing contractor to make sure that you need power direct venting before going down this installation path.

Are power vent water heaters better?

Power vent water heaters are more energy efficient, so they require less gas to operate. The lower energy consumption will save you some money, but probably not more than $20 a year, making this an added benefit, but not a deciding factor. … A power vent water heater can be a good option for this situation.

Does a power vent water heater need a dedicated circuit?

A gas water heater usually needs no electricity. Some have powered vents, the ones that do use less than 100 watts (less than one amp). So a dedicated circuit is not needed.

Why are power vent water heaters so expensive?

A power vent water heater will cost more initially due to extra equipment needed such as the fan and blower. Also, you will need to run a power line to the fan which will also add to the cost.

Can you power vent a tankless water heater?

Gas tankless water heaters don’t have to use indoor air for combustion. Tankless water heaters can be vented in two ways: power-vent or direct-vent. Power-vent units use indoor air for combustion and simply vent the exhaust to the outside.

Does a gas water heater need to be vented?

All natural gas water heaters must be vented to the outdoors to remove the byproducts of combustion. Atmospherically venting gas water heaters is the most common type of venting option used.

Can you vent a gas water heater and furnace together?

Vent connectors serving equipment vented by Natural draft (typical water heater) Shall Not Be Connected Into Any Portion of Mechanical-draft systems (80% and higher efficiency gas furnaces). This Means: With Any New Furnace Installation — A Gas Water Heater Must Then Be Separately Vented.

Article first time published on

Can I transport a new water heater on its side?

When moving, replacing, or installing hot water heaters, transport them with care to avoid damage. … If the hot water heater is not properly moved while in a horizontal position, the metal casing could become damaged or the glass lining could crack.

How much should a 50-gallon gas water heater cost installed?

How much does it cost to replace a 50-gallon water heater? A 50-gallon water heater costs around $1,000 for an electric heater and $1,200 for a natural gas heater of the same capacity.

How much is Lowes water heater installation?

When it comes to installing traditional tank water heaters, Lowe’s charges 325 dollars for basic installation.

How long should a power vent water heater last?

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Based on the manufacturer’s suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years.

How much electricity does a power vent water heater use?

Typically, a hot water heater that uses a tank will run for three to five hours per day. So, a 4,000-watt heater used for three hours a day at $. 10 per kWh will cost $1.20 per day, about $36.50 per month, or $438 per year.

What is the quietest power vent water heater?

  • 50.32 dBA. The quietest power vent water heaters in the industry.
  • With the new AquaVENT MAX™ Blower, the TTW® Power Vent Residential Gas Water Heaters do the job in a smaller space than the competition:
  • 3″ Flue Products Now Available, 5″ Flue Products Coming Soon.

Is a gas or electric water heater better?

If you are comparing the efficiency of an electric water heater vs a gas unit, electric heaters are more efficient. Although gas hot water heaters are less expensive to run monthly due to the low cost of natural gas—a gas heater uses more energy to operate and releases waste into the environment.

Can you vent a power vent water heater into a chimney?

When venting a gas water heater to a chimney, be aware that holes in the chimney can prevent a good draw on the water heater, causing downdrafts and presenting the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. To avert this problem, you can vent the water heater to the largest hole in the chimney and cap the remaining holes.

What's the difference between vented and unvented water heaters?

What is the difference between Vented and Unvented water heaters? Vented water heaters are a standalone system, ideal when there is no suitable access to a central boiler. … Unvented water heaters connect directly to the mains water feed, providing hot water at high pressure.

Does gas water heater need GFCI?

However, GFCI protection is not required for receptacles not intended to serve wet bar countertop surfaces, such as refrigerators, ice makers, water heaters, or convenience receptacles that do not supply counter-top surfaces.

Does a gas hot water tank need a dedicated circuit?

Basically, any electrical devices that need to work in order to protect your family, valuables, and property must be put on a dedicated circuit. These include: Sump pump. Water heater.

Do gas water heaters have circuit breakers?

Any hot water heater, gas or electric, that has an electrical connection requires a breaker. Some gas hot water heaters can have electrical circuits, requiring a power connection, to monitor and control the heater, making it more efficient.

Can you vent a hot water heater with PVC?

PVC is fine. As Jason mentioned, plastic (PVC or ABS) is ok to use as a venting material on powervented hot water heaters. They work by sending a huge amount of air in with the flue gases that it decreases the temperature of the exhaust going through the vent enough that it will not comprimise the vent.

How hot does a gas water heater vent pipe get?

As scale builds up and the heater efficiency falls off, the flue gas temperatures can easily increase to over 350 degrees F. Even if someone had their water heater set at 120 F, with scaling, the flue gas temperatures can rise well above 300 F.

What is the proper size vent for gas water heater?

For most installations, a 40–gallon water heater with a 3–inch outlet on the draft hood is required to have a vent connector that is a minimum of 4 inches in diameter.

Can you vent a tankless water heater with PVC?

In most cases, PVC makes a great venting material. It’s the least expensive option and is easy to install. And it’s a good reason to consider a high-efficiency condensing unit.

Is it normal to smell gas from a tankless water heater?

It is not normal to smell gas during the operation of a tankless water heater. Their combustion chambers are sealed and will have a twin pipe intake and exhaust to cycle the air in a closed loop.

Do I need to vent my tankless water heater?

No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.

Can a water heater be vented out a sidewall?

There are three types of venting and only a power vent is allowed to terminate at a sidewall. venting system (vent piping) and chimney by natural means. flame retention burners). a structure to the outside atmosphere in lieu of a chimney.

Does a gas water heater need a chimney liner?

For optimal use and safety, a liner is needed when installing a new heating system, furnace, boiler, or water heater. Local codes and the International Fuel Gas Code require proper venting and chimney liners for flue gasses to be vented into the outdoor atmosphere.

What is a glass lined hot water tank?

Second is the glass lining. Just imagine the inside of your water heater tank being glazed like a piece of pottery. This is a similar process for protecting the steel of your tank. Once the anode rod deteriorates, this glass lining is the only thing preventing the tank from rusting out.