Can You Vent A Hot Water Heater Out The Wall

Most tank type gas water heaters are atmospheric vent type and they are required to vent vertically and above the roof of a home.

Can you vent a hot water heater out the wall.

To make venting easiest install your tankless water heater on an outside wall. The difference is that a power vent water heater pulls in combustion air from the space. Water heaters and vents come in multiple forms including induced draft direct venting and conventional draft. This one vents out the side wall and it is perfectly fine.

They do make two models of power vent units one is called a direct vent power vent as bob harper pointed out it draws its combustion air from outside unlike a standard power vent unit which burns its combustion air from the dwelling. Single wall vent pipe cannot pass through any interior wall. Without knowing the water heater type vent type location and type of termination no one can give you a more definitive response. Single wall vent pipe cannot be used for water heaters located in attics and may not pass through attic spaces crawl spaces or any confined or inaccessible location.

A blower or power vent draws combustion air in to the heater and a power vent pushes exhaust gases out through a separate or dedicated exhaust flue. The only other option is an electric water heater which requires no vent. Can a standard water heater be side vented. Exhaust gases are vented outdoors through a separate vent duct or through a separate chamber of the same pipe this requires a double wall vent duct.

All solid liquid or gas fueled water heater whether they are tank type or tankless must vent through the roof unless they are direct vent. Photos go a long way. Instead both systems typically expel exhaust through a pipe that runs outside through an exterior wall. Two specialized types of water heaters direct vent and mechanical vent also called power vent are exempted from this code requirement.

Exceptions may be made for non combustible walls such as solid masonry. If the unit is installed on a basement wall the vent pipe can be run up just a few feet and then vented out the side with the use of a 90 degree elbow. If your water heater is near an outside wall you can go with a direct vent water heater. With a direct vent system air for combustion is drawn from a vent pipe that runs through an exterior wall or the roof.

Installing your tankless water heater for easier venting. They are a bit more expensive but do not require electricity to run a power vent.