Water Heater vent doesnt look right....

swoods · February 28, 2009, 8:38pm

This doesn’t look right, is this some type of new installation? How would one write this up? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

wwilson3 · February 28, 2009, 9:09pm

That looks like dryer vent which is not approved

swoods · February 28, 2009, 9:15pm

Thanks Wayne I was just making sure because there is a new flex vent material that is being used now that looks like a dryer vent right?

wwilson3 · February 28, 2009, 9:16pm

Yes there is but that isn’t it , I truly believe that is dryer vent,

wwilson3 · February 28, 2009, 9:18pm

It looks more like this

swoods · February 28, 2009, 9:25pm

Yeah your right, Thanks I really appreciate it.

lkage · February 28, 2009, 9:28pm

It looks like someone replaced a water heater and got one too tall and rigged it like that instead of properly installing it. Wayne’s right, the vent material doesn’t look right.

swoods · February 28, 2009, 9:33pm

I didn’t know since I haven’t actually seen those new liners

wwilson3 · February 28, 2009, 9:35pm

Better to ask Steven , One thing for sure you get a answer here. Everyone has to ask something sometime or another. Another reason this is good spot for information

swoods · February 28, 2009, 9:39pm

I know, you can never ask too many questions. We all continue to learn by doing so, especially on this message board.

jfunderburk · February 28, 2009, 9:44pm

And the water pipe looks combustible. It’s in contact with the dryer vent, I mean water heater flue.

lkage · February 28, 2009, 9:50pm

A liner is different than what is needed there. A liner is just that…a chimney liner.

Your picture looks like this:
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-52299/Detail
This type could be used with the correct clearances and needs the correct terminations:
http://www.supplyht.com/SHT/2000/03/Files/Images/140813.jpg

wwilson3 · February 28, 2009, 11:18pm

i was using the liner to show the difference because i couldn’t find the flex pipe. Didnt mean to side track you Steven but i know you got the idea

rdrangstveit · March 1, 2009, 12:24am

Also this looks like 4" flex connecting to a 3’’ galvanized pipe with no clamp!! It looks like it could be leaking CO around that connection!!

jpope · March 1, 2009, 2:45am

You should also check the clearance requirements of heaters installed like this. The information is typically included on the data-sticker of the unit.

Most require a minimum of 12 inches clearance from the top off the unit to combustibles. Many Bradford Whites need up to 16 inches.

swoods · March 2, 2009, 3:39pm

Thanks for the input guys, it helps me out a lot.

jvogan · March 3, 2009, 4:22pm

I am pretty sure that plastic zip-ties are not an approved method of attaching a flue, but I would have to go check!

Charles_Jones · March 5, 2009, 7:39pm

put so high temp to that flex line and see what happens.PUFF.I would have shut that off.