Venting propane water heater in basement through top of basement wall?

[Tractor Seabee]

Am I missing something in this or are others missing? The OP did not say what kind of gas WH he is getting free. Is it a standard combustion or a condensing combustion type? Two totally different scenarios. He states his furnace is a condensing type so his low intake and exhaust at the foundation works except when covered with snow. Just adding a blower to the WH can create another problem if the WH is not designed for it or the fan is too small or too large. Flue vents are a balanced event based of relative static pressures. More research is in the best interest to save having problems. Free is not always free. Check the price on multi wall vent pipe before you go through the roof (sic).

Ron

 

[Coyote machine]

Here's what I would do: Take the model # and some pics of the furnace installation, along with pics and model # of the new propane furnace you plan to install, (showing existing venting inside and outside on your house) to a local plumbing supply house, and see what they tell you as to what you should do to comply with your local codes.
Venting propane appliances is absolutely crucial that the work and venting materials are correct or illness or death could result. If you have to, hire a professional. Remember carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, and deadly to humans and pets.

BTW, just slapping a blower into a ducting run is not necessarily the solution to your particular application, as stated by Tractor Seabee. Do it right, or don't do it at all.:thumbsup:

 

[ozley]

I would skip the supply house you really do not who you are talking to. I would go down to the the building inspectors office and get the codes from them.

 

[Coyote machine]

OK, skip the supply house and go to the building inspector's office and get the specs needed to comply with the codes, THEN go to the supply house and either buy the parts or find someone licensed to hire to do the work to code, or above. Code is the absolute minimum acceptable outcome.

 

[fitter1]

Get the manufacture's installation manual and follow them precisely.

 

[oosik]

If the gas WH is installed - don't skip the requirement for a CO monitor.

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

from what I read out of this, the water heater the OP is talking about is NOT the high efficiency type that can be vented horizontally using 2" PVC.
From a safety point of view, I would steer clear of trying to jury-rig a draft inducer on a basic gas water heater.

 

[lt190b]

The OP might contact his propane supplier in regard to his installation. they could be very helpful since they deal with gas appliances daily. There could be rebates for switching from elect to propane. When I built my house. there was a rebate on the furnace and the hot water heater.

 

[KYErik]

I will definietly get a CO monitor/alarm.

I picked up the heater today. It is a Bradford White 40 gallon model MI40T6FTX- just a plain propane heater- not high efficiency or condensing. Accounding to the serial number, it was made in Feb of 2015. I also got a 6' section of double wall flue pipe and a double wall elbow. The installation manual simply states that the "Natural gas and propane installation code" must be followed, but it costs a few hundred dollars for that reference... I will have to contact a professional to know how to proceed- thanks for the suggestions on contacting my propane supplier or a plumber or plumbing supply company- I'll definitely follow that advice. I'll also check on getting a rebate.

 

[Threepoint]

I will definietly get a CO monitor/alarm.

I picked up the heater today. It is a Bradford White 40 gallon model MI40T6FTX- just a plain propane heater- not high efficiency or condensing. Accounding to the serial number, it was made in Feb of 2015. I also got a 6' section of double wall flue pipe and a double wall elbow. The installation manual simply states that the "Natural gas and propane installation code" must be followed, but it costs a few hundred dollars for that reference... I will have to contact a professional to know how to proceed- thanks for the suggestions on contacting my propane supplier or a plumber or plumbing supply company- I'll definitely follow that advice. I'll also check on getting a rebate.

My first call would be to Bradford-White technical support with the model no. of your WH. Tell them you want to vent horizontally, the length of the run, and the number of bends you'll have to make to clear obstacles and achieve the required clearance from exterior window. Tech support should be able to tell you in a few minutes whether your WH is designed for that, and if so, the maximum length of run for a given diameter pipe, and the number of feet you'll have to subtract from the max to compensate for the number and degree of the angle fittings. I just searched the model number you list on Bradford-White's website and got no results, so I wonder if there is a digit or letter off.

Safety features on LPG and natural gas heaters don't like it when the installation varies from the strict specifications of the manufacturer. Even when there is full compliance, there can be a problem, e.g., an unusual cold air inversion at the mouth of the vent pipe might cause just enough additional back pressure to trip a safety cutoff. Not fun taking a cold shower at 6:00 a.m. on a January morning. :laughing: We have a 22 y/o Bradford-White LPG water heater that was state-of-the-art high efficiency when we installed it with a 25 ft horizontal run to the side of the house to avoid exiting through the front wall. Everything was painstakingly done to spec. Yet, every few days it would just shut down. Drove the subcontractor and the Bradford-White techs nuts swapping out the safety device at least three times. Finally, Bradford-White factory techs hand-built the device especially for our unit. The water heater has worked perfectly ever since, well beyond its expected service life!