Your Gas-Fueled Tankless Water Heater: Key Venting Factors

Your Gas-Fueled Tankless Water Heater: Key Venting Factors

Your Gas-Fueled Tankless Water Heater: Key Venting FactorsMany homeowners are making the switch to tankless water heating in their homes these days. A tankless water heater can provide big energy savings because it doesn’t need to expend fuel keeping a tank of water hot constantly. Tankless units can provide a continuous supply of hot water on demand due to their unique design, which heats water instantaneously. The tankless water heater is also a space-saver, taking up much less room than a standard tank model.

Tankless water heaters that are fueled by gas use high-powered burners to provide hot water immediately when needed, so correct venting design and professional installation are extremely important. Be sure to consult a quality HVAC contractor in advance of purchasing your water heater(s). An experienced technician can determine whether a larger diameter gas pipe is needed and help you decide whether any additional point-of-use tankless units are necessary.

Direct, Dedicated Venting Required…

  • To keep your family safe: Shortcuts in tankless water heater venting may allow dangerous carbon monoxide leakage.
  • To keep equipment in top shape: Improper venting impedes performance and shortens your unit’s life because it allows condensate to enter and damage the unit.
  • To keep property protected: Careless venting practices can, for instance, result in condensate damage in chimney masonry.

Tankless Water Heater Venting Specifics

  • Your tankless water heater(s) may vent through the wall or roof.
  • Only UL listed stainless steel venting pipes are effective: They can stand up to contact with condensate and positive pressure from the water heater fan.
  • Vent runs must be relatively short: This minimizes installation costs and protects the water-heating unit. Follow manufacturer instructions and configure the venting system with few or no elbows, which shorten the maximum pipe run.
  • If using a masonry chimney: Line it with vent piping to accommodate condensate drainage.
  • Horizontal vent pipe must be sloped: Install the pipe sloping away from the tankless unit, with condensate drainage no further than three feet from the connection.
  • Prevent carbon monoxide leaks by sealing the venting system.

Contact the experts at Powers Heating and Air today for more information about tankless water heaters and complete home comfort services for your Peachtree City area home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

 

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