Gas Water Heaters
Natural gas water heaters offer three choices for venting (conventional, direct vent, power vent).
Storage Tank Water Heaters
A storage tank water heater is the most common type of water heater in Canada. It contists of a gas burner and a steel cylinder storage tank with capacities ranging from 30 to 100 gallons (113 to 378 Litres).
How storage tank water heaters work:
Cold water is drawn into the bottom of the tank where it is quickly heated by a gas burner. Hot water rises to the top of the tank. As the hot water is used, it is replaced at the bottom with cold water.
The tank thermostat controls the water temperature in the tank both when it is leaving the tank to your taps and when it is on "stand by", waiting in the tank to be used. The more efficient a water heater is the less that is lost when the unit is on "stand by".
Water Heating Venting 101
A natural gas water heater requires air for combustion and igniting. The air required can either come from outside or from the home itself. There are three types of venting for natural gas water heaters, each offering benefits depending on your installation limitations and requirements:
Direct Vent
A direct vent does not require a chimney, but vents through an outside wall and also brings air for combustion in from the outside. Some types of direct vent water heaters must be located closed to an outside wall, while others may be located further away. Replacing
This style of venting is most often convenient when:
- Replacing an electric water heater and a chimney is not available
- You do not have an electrical source close to the water heater to power the vent
FACT - Neither a direct vented nor a conventional vent water heater requires electricity. If there is power outage you will still have hot water.
Power Vent
A power vent water heater does not need a chimney, but uses an electrically powered fan to move combustion products outside.
This styles of venting is used when:
- Replacing an electric water heater and you do not have ready access to a chimney
- You have access to a dedicated electrical receptacle within six feet of the unit
Conventional Vent
A conventional vent is required on most standard natural gas water heaters. Conventional vents can be either type B, double-wall metal vents or a tile-lined brick chimney. The conventional vent can be shared with most standard mid-efficiency furnaces or boilers. This type of vent draws the air it needs from inside your home. In airtight homes it is important that there is an adequate air supply from outside.