Draft Hood

[pnarron]

There is a 40 gal water heater in the crawlspace and it vents to the exterior (siding) about 3ft above the ground. There is no draft hood on the waterheater, the vent is going to the exterior like a direct vent. Is a draft hood not required? The vent pipe looks like a square on top of the heater. Sorry no pics of the draft hood, but 1 of the vent. I have to go back to the house tommorow to meet the agent who said that it was ok per his contractor. (Lot of things I found that he had already been paid to fix)There is the issue with the window only being 2ft away also.

[Robert Ernst]

If it doesn't have a draft inducer I would look on top and see if there was an area for the draft hood. If there is are holes or something than you could show them. They can call the manufacturer and they would be able to confirm it.

[Bob Elliott]

What model is it and are you sure as Robert stated that it is not a high efficiency type?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

The vent termination is designed for a dryer. There is a back-draft damper on it. Totally unacceptable.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

The vent termination is designed for a dryer. There is a back-draft damper on it. Totally unacceptable.

OH my !
Guess that is to prevent back drafting.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Good timing. I'm taking an ICC mechanical exam tomorrow and have been studying. Bold emphasis added by me.


IRC G2427.12.1 (503.12.1) Appliances requiring draft hoods.
Vented appliances shall be installed with draft
hoods.

Exception: Dual oven-type combination ranges;
incinerators; direct-vent appliances; fan-assisted combustion
system appliances; appliances requiring chimney
draft for operation; single firebox boilers equipped
with conversion burners with inputs greater than 400,000
Btu per hour (117 kW); appliances equipped with blast,
power or pressure burners that are not listed for use with
draft hoods; and appliances designed for forced venting.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Unless it's a Type IV (high efficiency) appliance or has a mechanical fan, gas water heaters are required to vent above the roof. Out the wall (especially through a dryer duct) is prohibited.

IRC G2427.6.4 (503.6.4) Gas vent termination. A gas vent
shall terminate in accordance with one of the following:

1. Gas vents that are 12 inches (305 mm) or less in size
and located not less than 8 feet (2438 mm) from a vertical
wall or similar obstruction shall terminate above
the roof in accordance with Figure G2427.6.4.

2. Gas vents that are over 12 inches (305 mm) in size or
are located less than 8 feet (2438 mm) from a vertical
wall or similar obstruction shall terminate not less
than 2 feet (610 mm) above the highest point where
they pass through the roof and not less than 2 feet (610
mm) above any portion of a building within 10 feet
(3048 mm) horizontally.

3. As provided for direct-vent systems in Section
G2427.2.1.

4. As provided for appliances with integral vents in Section
G2427.2.2.

5. As provided for mechanical draft systems in Section
G2427.3.3.

[pnarron]

Thanks for all the input, the agent was upset that most of the defects that were in the report were reported before and he had paid to have them repaired.