Outside gas water heater venting

**Greg Rogers** · 06-18-2014, 07:53 PM

Hi,
This is my first post here. This is my installation (Los Angeles area) and would like know if any violations. I researched this site and read many posts about venting water heaters.
I started from scratch and bought all HD Ameri 3" type-B piping, elbows, and a 3 ft flexible coupling.
That is pvc gutter there and I stayed exactly 6" away from it at the flexible portion.
If there is a better way I should have done this , I would like to know that also.
thanks, Greg
photo 1.JPG photo 2.JPG photo 3.JPG

**Jerry Peck** · 06-18-2014, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Greg Rogers

... and would like know if any violations.

Yes there are.

This is not a DIY help web site, call a licensed plumber or your gas company to come out and inspect it. The plumber can make the proper corrections, and you did get a permit for it right?

If you did not get a permit for it, get a permit for it, pay the penalty for doing the work without a permit, have it inspected, and make corrections as needed.

**Mark Reinmiller** · 06-19-2014, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Yes there are.

This is not a DIY help web site, call a licensed plumber or your gas company to come out and inspect it. The plumber can make the proper corrections, and you did get a permit for it right?

If you did not get a permit for it, get a permit for it, pay the penalty for doing the work without a permit, have it inspected, and make corrections as needed.

Jerry, I thought you were being a bit harsh. ...Then I looked at the photos.

**Rick Cantrell** · 06-19-2014, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

Jerry, I thought you were being a bit harsh. ...Then I looked at the photos.

Jerry,,, harsh. No way.
You have heard the saying " Sometimes the truth hurts".
He adds a little extra "Sting" to the hurt, just to be sure that it sinks in.

**John Kogel** · 06-19-2014, 09:08 PM

Think Jery was being harsh? Wait till next week's earth quake flips that pipe over the fence.

**Jerry Peck** · 06-20-2014, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by John Kogel

Wait till next week's earth quake flips that pipe over the fence.

Earth quake?

Had not considered that, I was thinking about a summer breeze ...

Okay, maybe that was harsh, but I thought it was better than asking for some more photos, photos which show something done "not wrong" ...

**Bob Harper** · 06-20-2014, 09:43 AM

oh come on guys. aren't you dying to see he professionally attached that unpainted block of wood to the roof?
i'm especially impressed by the unsupported offset to the rear through a hole hacked into the cabinet to another unsupported offset back to the front. he's actually quite proud of this installation. just not proud enough to share with a building inspector...

**Greg Rogers** · 06-20-2014, 11:38 AM

I am pretty thick-skinned so I can take whatever is posted (former Navy 6 years).

I admit I am in the wrong forum and will come back only if I become a certified inspector.
However, seems like most of us had a good time replying and brought some humor to our day.

I received good advice from you all and will apply it.

Oh, by the way, the hole on top of the heater shed is exactly the way it came (pre-cut)from the manufacturer (no hack). The handyman who installed this water heater and shed years ago put the shed cover hole in the back location as you see. I have no before photos, however he duct-taped the universal cap to the two elbows you see inside the shed, so that the cap was siting right on top of the enclosure top! There was no venting above the roof line!
Like you already said, if i had it inspected/permitted at the time, i would not be in this mess and would have had a safe installation.
best regards,
Greg
Registered Profession Engineer (electrical) #12823

**Billy Stephens** · 06-20-2014, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Greg Rogers

Hi,
This is my first post here. This is my installation (Los Angeles area) and would like know if any violations. I researched this site and read many posts about venting water heaters.
I started from scratch and bought all HD Ameri 3" type-B piping, elbows, and a 3 ft flexible coupling.
That is pvc gutter there and I stayed exactly 6" away from it at the flexible portion.
If there is a better way I should have done this , I would like to know that also.
thanks, Greg
photo 1.JPG photo 2.JPG photo 3.JPG

This appears to be manufactured exterior Water Heater cabinet.

If you can find the manufactures installation instructions go with that ( I suspect nothing fancy just a cap off the top of the cabinet. ) Termination clearances windows,gas service,dryer vent other openings in the structure would be my biggest concern.

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**Phil brody** · 06-23-2014, 05:45 AM

[QUOTE=Greg Rogers;244906]Hi,
This is my first post here. This is my installation (Los Angeles area) and would like know if any violations. I researched this site and read many posts about venting water heaters.
I started from scratch and bought all HD Ameri 3" type-B piping, elbows, and a 3 ft flexible coupling.
That is pvc gutter there and I stayed exactly 6" away from it at the flexible portion.
If there is a better way I should have done this , I would like to know that also.
thanks, Greg
photo 1.JPG photo 2.JPG photo 3.JPG[/Q
UOTE]

Well for starters you could have gone straight through the roof, flex pipe - no go,method of attachment not good I'd rather not see the gas connection. This is natural gas,rather not see it on the evening news. Get it corrected for yourself and neighbors safety. You have done some of the grunt work so will have saved yourself money in any case.

**John Kogel** · 06-23-2014, 06:52 AM

Greg, thanks for being a good sport. You don't have to be a home inspector to post here and only some of us are 'certified' or even certifiable anyway.

The point is we would have to call that out for repair if it appeared in the course of a home inspection for a buyer. The pipe needs lateral support. Through the roof woould be best, anchored at the roof jack and at the soffit. If you must have it there, the stack needs braces.

The vent in the cabinet should be above the water heater or forward. Some water heaters will require a foot of straight pipe before the first elbow. There is more, but you see where we are coming from.

**Jimmy Roberts** · 06-23-2014, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Greg Rogers

Hi,
This is my first post here. This is my installation (Los Angeles area) and would like know if any violations. I researched this site and read many posts about venting water heaters.
I started from scratch and bought all HD Ameri 3" type-B piping, elbows, and a 3 ft flexible coupling.
That is pvc gutter there and I stayed exactly 6" away from it at the flexible portion.
If there is a better way I should have done this , I would like to know that also.
thanks, Greg
photo 1.JPG photo 2.JPG photo 3.JPG

You are a member, and purport to be a Home Inspector, which means you have the skills and knowledge to determine whether plumbing and flu have been properly installed. You say you installed all that is pictured. Go back now, and write up all the defects found (pictured), and start over.

**Greg Rogers** · 06-23-2014, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Jimmy Roberts

You are a member, and purport to be a Home Inspector, which means you have the skills and knowledge to determine whether plumbing and flu have been properly installed. You say you installed all that is pictured. Go back now, and write up all the defects found (pictured), and start over.

I have never purported to be an inspector. I am a registered engineer (CA).
At the risk of wasting your time attached is the current status.