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  1. #1
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Combustion air for water heater

    Gas water heater with inducer fan, I could not figure out how this gets combustion air. The burner compartment is sealed and I didn't see any intake on the fan.

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  2. #2
    Mike Inspector's Avatar
    Mike Inspector Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Intake and exhaust through same vent. High effiecency unit


  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    From their website, it is a counter flow with air spent gases pushed out of the lower pipe by the blower on top. Were there vents or openings in at the top?

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Massachusetts
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Is that earthquake straps on the tank?


  5. #5
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    AO Smith has plenty of information on the Vertex line on the AO Smith support page, including install guides that explain how to properly vent the appliance.

    http://www.hotwater.com/Resources/Li...Manual-197835/


  6. #6
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    No vents or openings at the top or on the blower. And the exhuast vent def does not act as in intake.


  7. #7
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Yes they are straps and here is a pic of the vent.

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  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Looking at the AO Smith web site, it looks like the vent is installed like they show it should be. Interesting video on U-Tube about this unit.


  9. #9
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Matt, I think what might be throwing you off is that the burner is on top of the unit with exhaust gas being blown down to the bottom mounted exhaust vent. The air intake is at the top where it is drawn into the burner assembly, backward of what we normally see. Hope this helped.

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  10. #10
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    So the utility room needs to be equipped with combustion air?


  11. #11
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Quote Originally Posted by mathew stouffer View Post
    So the utility room needs to be equipped with combustion air?
    Pic 3 looks like combustion air is plumbed in?

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Not sure where picture 3 is, but it looks to me like this should have two vents, if the installation instruction in the link refer to the model. Part of the instructions are apparently generalized information, like installation in an enclosed room (Fig 16 I've seen elsewhere, too). The vent installation procedures really start with Fig 18.

    "THIS UNIT CONSISTS OF TWO VENT TERMINALS - AN INTAKE
    VENT TERMINAL AND AN EXHAUST VENT TERMINAL. THE INTAKE
    VENT TERMINAL IS A 2” 22.5° PVC ELBOW(-) WITH A MESH WIRE
    SCREEN AND THE EXHAUST VENT TERMINAL IS A 2” 22.5° PVC
    ELBOW WITH A MESH WIRE SCREEN."


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  13. #13
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Kristi Silber View Post
    Not sure where picture 3 is, but it looks to me like this should have two vents, if the installation instruction in the link refer to the model. Part of the instructions are apparently generalized information, like installation in an enclosed room (Fig 16 I've seen elsewhere, too). The vent installation procedures really start with Fig 18.

    "THIS UNIT CONSISTS OF TWO VENT TERMINALS - AN INTAKE
    VENT TERMINAL AND AN EXHAUST VENT TERMINAL. THE INTAKE
    VENT TERMINAL IS A 2” 22.5° PVC ELBOW(-) WITH A MESH WIRE
    SCREEN AND THE EXHAUST VENT TERMINAL IS A 2” 22.5° PVC
    ELBOW WITH A MESH WIRE SCREEN."


    Kristi, counting from reft to light of OP, the third pic has 2" PVC with a glue joint. That should be the intake but can't tell for sure due to pic angle.

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Oh, silly me, that picture 3! I thought you meant in the instructions. The same one is in photo 2, going through the wall, and I agree, it should be intake. But why does it have a condensate line? I thought there wasn't a 2nd vent at the bottom? If so, that solves the puzzle. ...arrgh, now I see it. Pay attention, woman! So I don't get what the problem is - one vent in the top, one out the bottom. I guess that thing on the top vent is a condensate/moisture trap. Interesting.

    Last edited by Kristi Silber; 03-04-2012 at 08:58 PM.
    Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago.
    - James Burgh, 1754.

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Manual says it is a condensing water heater.

    Oh! I see the line you are talking about now. Don't know? If I had to hazard a guess, I would say the original installer thought the top was the exhaust vent instead of intake and put a condensate trap in.

    Last edited by Vern Heiler; 03-04-2012 at 09:38 PM.
    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  16. #16
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    saw this unit build on how it's made on tv. the blower is under the yellow cap on top. check out utube or how it's made video's on the discovery channel


  17. #17
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Quote Originally Posted by mathew stouffer View Post
    So the utility room needs to be equipped with combustion air?
    Off the link provided by Dom D'Agostino:

    Vertex™ 100 Power Vent DV Manual (317443-002)

    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  18. #18
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Just a side note; the blue glue looks like Christy's PVC cement which is a single process glue and I am pretty sure that the code requires a two part PVC glue for vent piping.

    Maybe someone that is more up to date on this requirement could comment.


  19. #19
    Jay Ferrari's Avatar
    Jay Ferrari Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    I'm new here so I'll give my 2 cents. The Vertex is a condensing unit but there are 3 different models of the unit. Only the 96% efficiency units require outside air for combustion.

    This unit appears to be a GPHE-50 (based on the controls at the bottom of the unit). Its a 90% efficiency unit and gets the air for combustion from the room but where it's located on the unit I don't know. The condensate line is on the vent pipe .

    I only know this because I just bought one but haven't taken delivery yet. Here is the correct manual,

    http://s3.pexsupply.com/manuals/1329..._PROD_FILE.pdf

    As far as the vent pipe, code in my area is 636 PVC. Primer needs to be used only when installation temps are less than 32f.

    J.


  20. #20
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    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Ferrari View Post
    . . .
    As far as the vent pipe, code in my area is 636 PVC. Primer needs to be used only when installation temps are less than 32f.

    J.

    Ah, good to know, thanks for jumping in. I knew someone would know better than I on this issue.

    And welcome!


  21. #21
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    Near Philly, Pa.
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    Question Re: Combustion air for water heater

    [QUOTE=Jay Ferrari;

    As far as the vent pipe, code in my area is 636 PVC. Primer needs to be used only when installation temps are less than 32f.

    J.[/QUOTE]

    Jay, since your profile says you're from the US but you refer to the Canadian std. 636, can you clarify which side of the border you're from?
    Welcome aboard and thanks in advance.

    Keep the fire in the fireplace.

  22. #22
    Jay Ferrari's Avatar
    Jay Ferrari Guest

    Default Re: Combustion air for water heater

    I live in Canada but work in the US


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