What Is a Power Vent Water Heater?
A power vent water heater draws combustion air from the space around the heater and uses a small fan to expel exhaust gases. The forced exhaust provides increased flexibility for heater location and prevents backdrafting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Operation
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Natural gas water heaters get combustion air for the burners from the outside through a vent pipe or from inside the house in the area around the heater. Burnt exhaust gases are expelled through a vertical roof flue, up a chimney or via a horizontal vent through an outside wall.
Power Vent
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A power vent heater pulls burner combustion air from inside the house in the space immediately around the heater. A small blower fan drives exhaust gas through a flue and creates a vacuum to draw air into the combustion chamber.
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Applications
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The Iowa Energy Center recommends a power vent water heater for houses with air-tight construction, extremely long flue lengths and if the heater is positioned in an air-conditioned area. The fan-powered exhaust permits the use of a horizontal vent and eliminates the need for a vertical flue.
Advantages
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If the fan stops running, a signal shuts off the gas valve and eliminates the possibility of backdrafting. The powered exhaust allows the option of having a flue length up to 40 feet, which increases the flexibility of heater location.
Limitations
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Because of the addition of the exhaust fan, a power vent heater costs slightly more than a direct vent unit. A power vent heater must have electricity for the fan and this source might not always be convenient, which could add to the cost of installation.
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References
- Photo Credit shower image by Dragan Trifunovic from Fotolia.com
