Hot Water Heater Flue Pipe Clearance

A vent pipe is an important part of the gas water heater maintenance don t forget your schedule.

Hot water heater flue pipe clearance.

Fire clearances required range from 6 to 36 depending on the equipment. All water heater venting systems use a vent duct or pipe also called a chimney or flue to bring exhaust gases from the water heater to the outdoors. Single wall vent pipes cannot pass through a ceiling floor firewall or wall. 1 inch or 6 inches water heater vents generally are of two types.

This construction defect is considered a fire hazard. 9 is a typical clearance between a gas fired boiler or furnace flue connector and combustibles. In an attempt to maximize finished floor space when boxing off the water heater from the rest of the room people often don t leave enough clearance between the new wall framing and the vent pipes. Atmospheric venting refers to a system in which exhaust from the water heater naturally rises out of the appliance s combustion chamber then travels up through a standard chimney style flue.

Note some modern high efficiency water heater may have pvc vents. Even if you keep the clearances at the entrance and exit from that space whatever section is inside must be double wall type pipe. Furnace water heater vent pipe clearance single wall. The common rule is that the horizontal part of the single wall vent pipe must be equal or shorter than 75 of it s total developed height.

Make the vent pipe section between the water heater and the chimney as short and as straight as possible. Metal single wall and double wall. 6 minimum clearance from single wall vent pipe or flue vent connector to any combustible material. Here s an example of what i say.

An exception is made for non combustible walls such as solid masonry or concrete. For gas fired water heater vents. A single walled vent pipe should be six inches away from any combustible material and a double walled vent pipe should be one inch away. Metal flue fire clearance requirements single wall metal pipe flues gas fired equipment.

Single wall vents get very hot requiring a 6 in. The minimum distance between the single wall vent pipe and combustible materials is 6 the single wall vent pipe cannot be concealed inside the wall or floor. The water heater vent pipe is too close to combustible material and should be serviced before the close of escrow. Home plumbing water heater water heater vent clearance to wood or combustionable materials.

Gas fired heating equipment.