hot water tank venting with pvc

[mchizmar]

The hot water tank is vented by way of some fan I have never seen to this point. Also is vented through pvc out the side of the house. Could someone please tell me what the fan is, and am I right to say pvc should not be used?
Thanks

[Jason1]

It is a power vented hot water heater.

[Jason1]

If you have the manufacture name, do a search on power vented water heater under that name.

[Donald R. Peterson]

This looks like an attempt to get a normal convection water heater to exhaust without a chimney. Check with Manufacturers installation manual for approved venting. Maybe available on web. There could be several issues with this install:
1. is there a proving device that will control the gas valve if the fan fails?
2. where does the condensate go?
3. The exhaust hood is normally not used and it is a sealed connection.

Food for thought

[mchizmar]

The install it self appears not installed professionally. I will research the fan. But I am still concerned with the pvc?

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by dpeterson

3. The exhaust hood is normally not used and it is a sealed connection.

Food for thought

Some models do use a draft hood with the firect vent fan.
Here is a Richmond that may be the same as the one in original post.

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by mchizmar

The install it self appears not installed professionally. I will research the fan. But I am still concerned with the pvc?

PVC is fine.

[phinsperger]

As Jason mentioned, plastic (PVC or ABS) is ok to use as a venting material on powervented hot water heaters. They work by sending a huge amount of air in with the flue gases that it decreases the temperature of the exhaust going through the vent enough that it will not comprimise the vent.

As Donald and Micheal mentioned, research the fan as it may or may not be approved for use with that DHW

[mchizmar]

Thanks to all you for your post's. I have a better understanding of this set up.

[Greg Veal]

Matthew,

I'll have to agree with others, either research it before your final reporting to your client or defer to a Plumbing Pro to make the call.

I've seen Richmonds, AOSmiths, Bradford-Whites with Power-Vent systems, and none of them used PVC as vent material and always Sidewall design.
It may be acceptable design by the Manuf's and just not used in our area, but it would make me uneasy.

You've seen some of the posts, showing the quality of some installations...
Need I say more.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by gveal

I've seen Richmonds, .......
It may be acceptable design by the Manuf's and just not used in our area, but it would make me uneasy.

Greg, that photo I posted is my water heater and I have the installation guide.
You are correct that the local AHJ may not permit it but he would be on shaky ground.

[mchizmar]

I have deferred on the issue do to the fact that it exhaust within 3 feet of a window. I do not mean the basement window.
Thanks again to all