Water Heater Vent Pipe Concern

[Eddie C. Frincillo]

An aquantance has a gas water heater in a crawlspace. Vent pipe passes thru exterior wall, runs up the wall outside with about a six inch standoff and terminates about a foot underneath the roof soffit. Should/can the vent be extended? If so, can it be offset with 45 deg ells & run above the roof, or would it be better to penetrate the soffit & roof?

Help would be appreciated.

Fred

» This message has been edited by Fred on 13 April 2006

» This message has been edited by Fred on 13 April 2006

[SelgasParticipant]

I cannot tell where you are from so with that in mind I will answer your question as if you were in either Australia or New Zealand where our regulations are very similar to each other. Here a flue vent is required to terminate 500mm above the roof line and unless it is fitted with a balanced flue or other special terminal it is not permitted to terminate a gas flue under a building soffit. By terminating a flue under the soffit and against an external wall ( given it is stood out by 150mm or 6 inches – in a prevailing wind a downdraught situation could very easily ocurr causing the water heater burner to baffle or otherwise create a situation where excessive amounts of carbon monoxide could be generated as a direct result of a poorly acting flue connected to a gas burner. Personally I would extend the flue via 2 45 degree bends and take it up above the roof hight to prevent the problem from ocurring in the first place.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[FredParticipant]

Thanks, Peter! Good info. I am in Tennesse, USA.

[SelgasParticipant]

Fred

Happy to be of help and hey might just look ya up on my next visit to them thar Southern States of yers.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[FredParticipant]

Peter,

When in Nashville, give me a “holler.”

Fred

» This message has been edited by Fred on 15 April 2006

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