How far is too far for a gas water heater flue to join the main vent stack?

Question

A new gas water heater was installed in my mothers home which is over 100 years old and has a small limited space basement.  The old furnace never had issue with the pilot light going out - I am told this issue now is due to the sensors now designed in the newer units.  I am trying to get some measurements in an effort to see if a different design of the flue ventilation might fix the issue.  I am told that an electric uint is our option however the current gas unit is nonreturnable given that is has been installed.  Desperately trying to weigh other options before I accept that we are $700.00 in the hole and starting over.  Any direction or advice is very much appreciated.

Answer 1

 

Hi Tmich,

Unfortunately, based on the very little information provided I can't give you much... There are some basic rules used to calculate the water heater's horizontal vent connector length (general advice is: as short as possible), and a few reasons that might be causing the WH's pilot to go out.

I've answered similar "pilot going out" question a few times, just follow the links below:

http://www.checkthishouse.com/qa/504/water-heater-pilot-light-goes-out-often

http://www.checkthishouse.com/qa/349/why-is-water-heater-pilot-going-out

http://www.checkthishouse.com/qa/503/pilot-light-on-gas-water-heater-keeps-going-out

Going back to the vent connector and "how much is too much"...

A vent connector is a 'horizontal / pitched' vent pipe section that attaches to a vertical chimney, flue, or vent.

The following is a quote from the AmeriVent installation instructions

• General Installation Guidelines

7. Wherever possible, install vertical vents directly above appliances before beginning any lateral runs. Lateral venting should be kept to a minimum to avoid vent resistance. Horizontal runs to vents should be either in accordance with the appropriate tables in NFPA 54, or should not exceed 75% of the vertical height of the vent.

This next quote is from the International Fuel Gas Code (almost the same) (http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ifgc/2009/icod_ifgc_2009_5_sec003_par092.htm?bu=IC-P-2009-000007&bu2=IC-P-2009-000019)

503.10.9 Length of vent connector.

A vent connector shall be as short as practical and the appliance located as close as practical to the chimney or vent. The maximum horizontal length of a single-wall connector shall be 75 percent of the height of the chimney or vent except for engineered systems. The maximum horizontal length of a Type B double-wall connector shall be 100 percent of the height of the chimney or vent except for engineered systems.

If none of the above helps, let me know but provide as much information as possible about your installation.