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

[KYErik]

Here is where I found my manual- it is in the "M-I models prior to 2015 regulation" section. FTX is the suffix designation for propane, FBN is the suffix for the same model but which has a natural gas burner: 2.Defender Saftey System Atmospheric Vent Models - Pre NAECA | Bradford White Water Heaters. Built to be the best.

Three point- your 25 foot horizontal run gives me hope- did your flue exit through a wall or through the ceiling?

I will give the Bradford white tech support a call.

 

[Threepoint]

Here is where I found my manual- it is in the "M-I models prior to 2015 regulation" section. FTX is the suffix designation for propane, FBN is the suffix for the same model but which has a natural gas burner: 2.Defender Saftey System Atmospheric Vent Models - Pre NAECA | Bradford White Water Heaters. Built to be the best.

Three point- your 25 foot horizontal run gives me hope- did your flue exit through a wall or through the ceiling?

I will give the Bradford white tech support a call.

It runs between the basement ceiling joists and exits through the basement masonry wall into an exterior stairwell, directly above the door. The installation is right at the limits of the B-W requirements, but definitely within them. This was done 22 years ago, when "high efficiency" was really in the early stages of design. I suspect designs have improved since then, so you may well be okay.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Here is a free link to the 2012 International Mechanical Code. May not be what your local jurisdiction uses but they all are similar. Chapter 802 through 805 deal with vents. Good reading!https://archive.org/stream/gov.law.icc.imc.2012/icc.imc.2012#page/n101/mode/2up

Ron

 

[KYErik]

Here is a free link to the 2012 International Mechanical Code. May not be what your local jurisdiction uses but they all are similar. Chapter 802 through 805 deal with vents. Good reading!https://archive.org/stream/gov.law.icc.imc.2012/icc.imc.2012#page/n101/mode/2up

Ron

Thanks- this is very helpful.

 

[ultrarunner]

Have the best service from Bradford White... it is the only water heaters I now install... before it was Hoyt which was also good and then they closed up.

Sometimes it is a wonder how we all survived... remember during the holidays with the windows and doors closed tight and the propane oven cooking a turkey and several burners going most of the day... no venting at all.

 

[KYErik]

Sometimes it is a wonder how we all survived... remember during the holidays with the windows and doors closed tight and the propane oven cooking a turkey and several burners going most of the day... no venting at all.

I have thought the same thing. This water heater is 36,000 BTU. I know they make vent free propane wall heaters/fireplaces that large but I would guess that the burners have different designs...

 

[ultrarunner]

An old time building inspector showed me a trick he used to check water heater venting...

He would strike a match and hold it near the collar to see if the flame was drawn to the vent or not.

I manage several properties with basement heaters... one is a duplex with two 40 gallon heaters side by side venting common with single wall horizontal to a wall thimble and then double wall up the outside of the building through the eve...

This was permitted and inspected...

I'm guessing the run and rise over distance is the question...

All of the gas appliances around here vent through the roof no matter how they get there... even if it is outside the wall through the eve.

 

[AHNC]

This is commonly done with. "Power venter", not a draft inducer. The dI is simply a fan the water heater requires additional controls to comply with manuf requirements as well code requirements. I believe the Tjernlund VP2or 3 would be the right tool for the job. I worked with Tjernlund for years, but it has been a while. Give Tjernlund a call. They are an excellent company, fine people and products and will be able to detail your system requirements.

 

[Handloader109]

Not saying that it is against code, but I am pretty sure the exit of the vent should be above roof line. Just through the wall may not be enough. You don't want CO coming back in thru a window, (yes small possibility, but strange things happen)

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^Kind of like Tractor Diesel Exhaust... straight up and out.