Charlie, I want to thank you for that highly informative response to my questions. You see, I was curious to know how a category I gas vented appliance can be installed in such a tight space and still meet clearances. I was curious as to whether or not these are vented into masonry chimneys or B-vent. I was curious if they used single walled vent connectors or B-vent connectors. With a 3ft water heater plus draft hood and connectors, I was wondering how high your crawl space had to be to provide clearance to combustibles off the vent connector. I was trying to LEARN. I realize you are saying they won't be making these units anymore. However, according to you, there is a significant inventory of these installations, which you will be inspecting for a number of years. Please excuse me for asking you a question.

As for your "that was not the question", I don't think anyone on this forum has been able to figure out to what extent you were asking a question versus making a statement. I will, however, check with my HVAC supply house in the morning what info. they have on this but the last I heard, "lowboy" gas water heaters ( approx. 30-36" height) were being phased out simply because with the energy requirements, there was less and less demand for them to the point it did not make economic sense to build them. In general, you get more efficiency out of taller water heaters. Couple that with the energy losses from outdoor WHs and you see why these are being replaced with like units.

Just to show you what a good sport I am, you need to consider this: appliances installed in unconditioned crawl spaces should be listed and approved for outdoor installation.

Have a good day,
Bob
PS--I really do love soup, too.

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disgusted with some people on this forum. Out of here!