Gas Hot Water Heater Venting Problems

The first thing to check would be the draft on the water heater vent.

Gas hot water heater venting problems.

If for some reason gas is allowed to escape without being ignited you can get an explosive situation. Smith power vent gas water heaters are equipped with an electric blower fan that is installed on top of the water heater which requires an electrical outlet to be close to the water heater. All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane lp gas require a venting system. The odor is added as a safety feature.

See the article on how to troubleshoot gas water heater problems for a complete listing of issues and the resources to solve the problems. Once the gas is burned the fumes need somewhere to go. Gas water heaters troubleshooting guide common problems heater does not heat the water. I smell gas something you hear or say from time to time is not from smelling the gas.

A guide to gas water heater troubleshooting. Not sure if this is your problem. Back drafting is usually the result of an inadequate vent design. Probably the most fundamental and obvious complaint about a water heater this has an equally fundamental solution.

In our experience and opinion the direct termination of a gas fired water heater into a large masonry flue as illustrated just above is likely to give serious venting problems particularly in cold weather when the heater is the only appliance venting into the chimney. Gas has an odor to it that you are probably familiar with. Your gas hot water heater needs air to operate. You see this most commonly with atmospheric configurations and it means that your exhaust isn t leaving the home.

The process of burning of the gas is called combustion and it creates heat exhaust gases including highly poisonous carbon monoxide and moisture the water heater s ventilation system removes these byproducts from the home making it a critical safety feature. One problem you need to avoid is back drafting. The danger with a gas hot water heater is the gas itself. The blower pushes the exhaust and excess heat through the exhaust venting.

Atmospheric venting refers to a system in which exhaust from the water heater naturally rises out of the appliance s combustion chamber then travels up through a standard chimney style flue. The most common problems. The venting can run either vertically or horizontally with a longer line to help with space and sizing issues within your. Troubleshooting low performance insufficient hot water pilot light problems improper gas combustion issues with the pilot light thermocouple gas burner venting and other common issues.