How to Vent Water Heaters

Water heaters that use gas need to be properly vented to send the exhaust and gas fumes out of your home. If you are replacing an existing gas water heater, you can reuse the vent pipe by connecting it to the new appliance. However, if you are installing a gas water heater for the first time, you will need to install the ventilation system. You can vent a water heater by first making sure you have an accessible vent hole.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Power drill
• Concrete drill bit
• Pencil or felt tip marker
• Masonry hole saw
• Screwdriver
• Ventilation piping
• Silicone caulk

1. Decide where on your basement wall you want to have the vent hole. The hole for the vent should be located as close as possible to the water heater.

2. Mark the location of the vent hole on the wall with a pencil or felt tipped marker.

3. Drill a pilot hole in the wall using a masonry bit with a power drill. If your vent hole is going to go through a concrete block or brick wall, drill the pilot hole through the mortar.

4. Place the power drill, with a masonry hole saw attached, over the pilot hole and begin cutting out the hole for the vent pipe.

5. Insert the exterior portion of the vent pipe into the hole on the wall. This is where the vent piping from the water heater will attach.

6. Connect the vent piping to the water heater by tightening the clamps with a screwdriver.

7. Attach the vent piping to the external vent pipe. Depending on the type of piping, it may lock into place on the external vent pipe, or you may need to secure it with screws and a screwdriver.

8. Run a bead of silicone caulk around the exterior vent pipe to seal any gaps.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the instructions with the water heater for the size of the vent hole you will need.
• Drilling a hole straight through from the inside may damage any exterior surround you may have installed on the wall.

References

• How to Install an Instantaneous Water Heater
• Venting the Water Heater