Power Vent Water Heaters?

Anybody has any opinion about Power Vented Water Heaters? Are they better than direct vented to the roof? The same type of water heaters can be both, power vented or direct vented. If we have both options, what would you do?

brklynreno

in Plumbers and Plumbing 13 years and 3 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

Newest Oldest

ellenlourie | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4850 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4893 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209451"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "ellenlourie"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BW7BCPC4MhhU4md6aHcLH/64c1GhM1/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "ellenlourie"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "ellen.lourie@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-06-29 12:47:36"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "ellenlourie"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209451)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

power venting is venting with assistanse of the fan direct venting is removal of combustion product without chimney athmospheric appliance is the one, using air in from inside of the structure for combustion. sealed combustion is appliance using outside air for combustion.

brklynreno | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4851 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4852 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "45110"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "brklynreno"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "1890suz"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "brklynreno@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(22) "/forums/users/dean5th/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2019-03-01 15:14:52"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "1890suz"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(45110)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks cmu!

needmtg | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4855 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4849 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "42472"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "cmurthi@seeinggreen.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/cmu/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:51:22"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(42472)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

power venting is used when natural venting won’t work…too far away or cannot rise enough (hot air rises). Power venting uses electricity (maybe 300w motor) so is less efficient, though the combustion efficiency increases a little so that may be a wash. Direct venting is sealed in that it draws outside air for combustion though a pipe …as opposed to natural venting, which uses available surrounding air.  In highly sealed houses, direct/power vent is necessary as you may not have enough  air leakage to support the combustion. In typical browstone cellars, that’s not an issue. These are not to be confused with the ultra-hi-efficiency condensing water heaters (also power vented) which may reach 96+% efficiency as opposed to 60-65% of others. Of course, they cost about 2 grand.

Master Plvmber | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4852 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4850 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "1447"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(14) "Master Plvmber"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BSHLZQSJWUzjnaSv9fyWJpNYjwcz.u."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(14) "Master Plvmber"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(24) "info@gatewayplumbing.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(30) "http://www.GatewayPlumbing.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2007-08-10 20:40:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Master Plvmber"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(1447)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

There’s no reason to have a power vented water heater if you don’t need one for structural reasons.