Does a water heater need a chimney liner?

For optimal use and safety, a liner is needed when installing a new heating system, furnace, boiler, or water heater. Local codes and the International Fuel Gas Code require proper venting and chimney liners for flue gasses to be vented into the outdoor atmosphere.

Can a water heater be vented through a chimney?

When venting a gas water heater to a chimney, be aware that holes in the chimney can prevent a good draw on the water heater, causing downdrafts and presenting the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. To avert this problem, you can vent the water heater to the largest hole in the chimney and cap the remaining holes.

Can you vent a water heater through the wall?

Direct vent or horizontally vented water heaters are designed for installation where vertical chimneys or flues are not available or would be more expensive to install. The vents go directly through an outside wall, and can also bring in combustion air to the gas burner.

Does a high efficiency furnace need a chimney?

Higher efficiency furnaces do not let out steam that is so high in temperature. A really high efficiency unit (90\% and above) does not even use the chimney! They have their own plastic pipes that leave the home from the side of the house because the steam is only about 150 degrees.

Can you use a chimney without a liner?

Chimney liners form a barrier between the fire and the chimney and its surrounding elements. Without a chimney liner, your chimney will be in danger of overheating which can cause your chimney to combust. You don’t want to play with fire and if you don’t have a liner then you’re in danger of burning down your house.

Is chimney liner necessary?

There are three principle reasons you may need a chimney liner: A) because your chimney has no clay tile chimney liner (older chimneys may not); B) the clay tile chimney liner is damaged; C) a chimney liner is required for optimal performance and safety because you are installing a new heating unit (stove or furnace) …

What happens if you don’t vent a water heater?

That is, the average water heater still burns fuel—be it natural gas, oil, or propane—and that fuel burning releases byproducts like carbon monoxide. Without proper ventilation of the noxious gases created by combustion, modern water heating would be a dangerous proposition.

Does a water heater need a vent?

All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas require a venting system. The process of burning of the gas is called combustion and it creates heat, exhaust gases (including highly poisonous carbon monoxide), and moisture.

What is the proper way to vent a gas water heater?

The venting must be vertical or upward sloping so that the hot exhaust rises up through the venting to exit your home. Making sure that your home has a properly working vent system is imperative when installing a standard atmospheric vent with your water heater.

Can I use PVC to vent gas water heater?

PVC is fine. 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.

Can a high efficiency furnace vent through a chimney?

These high efficiency units use PVC pipe to pull air in for combustion and vent the by-products to the outdoors. Your furnace won’t exhaust gases into your chimney anymore. Instead, an HVAC contractor will install the system to expel the exhaust directly outside your home.

Can you vent a high efficiency furnace into a chimney?

Furnaces with an AFUE of 90\% and greater use special venting material such as PVC or stainless steel. A 90\% furnace should never dump flue gases into a chimney. Using an abandoned chimney as a chase for a metal venting system, such as “B” Vent, can be done.

Do I need a chimney liner for my gas fireplace?

However, if you’re not using your fireplace and your chimney acts solely as a vent for your furnace or water heater, you may not need to have a liner installed.

How do you vent a gas water heater to a chimney?

When venting a gas water heater to a chimney, be aware that holes in the chimney can prevent a good draw on the water heater, causing downdrafts and presenting the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. To avert this problem, you can vent the water heater to the largest hole in the chimney and cap the remaining holes.

A new high-efficiency furnace may now vent through a plastic pipe that exits a sidewall of the home, not the chimney. Thus, the water heater vent is now an orphan in the chimney. I suggest that you contact your local building or fire department inspector.

What are the different types of chimney liners?

Another type of chimney liner is the aluminum liner. Aluminum liners are very durable but are only suitable for gas furnaces and water heaters, not fireplaces.