Tag archive: gas water heater
Water Heater Maintenance 3 | Anode Rod, WH shut-down, Combustion Air
Water heater maintenance Part 3 explains sacrificial Anode Rod maintenance, vacation and extended shut-down of the water heater, water heater’s combustion air.
Gas Water Heater Maintenance 1 | How To Maintain Tank Water Heaters
Just like with every appliance, your gas water heater maintenance should be performed on regular basis. Neglecting it can compromise water heater’s operation.
New Water Heater Installation | Chicago Condo Inspection
New Water Heater Installation in a Condominium - Chicago Inspection Tips
To start your inspection of a new water heater installation in a Chicago condominium you have to determine what type of a water heater you actually have.
The following water heater installation guidelines will most likely apply in any jurisdiction (please double check). The only difference or rather an addition would be water heater strapping and flexible gas connectors that are required in seismic areas.
Below are 4 most common types of water heater installation in Chicago new condos:
Tank type /natural draft water heater with a metal vent pipe (galvanized steel – make sure there is no aluminum [...]
Chicago Condo Inspection & Combustion Air Requirements
This part will cover Chicago condo inspection combustion air requirements for the gas furnace and water heater installed inside your condo closet / utility room (not in the building common areas) – this is an extremely important section and you may need measuring tape.
All gas burning appliances require oxygen for a proper, complete and safe combustion process / without creating measurable and dangerous amounts of Carbon Monoxide.
Because Carbon Monoxide has no taste, smell or color you must have a CO detector installed in your condo to alert you about any unsafe levels (check Chicago smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector requirements).
First [...]
Gas Water Heater PVC Vent Pipe and WH Power Vent
WH PVC vent pipes can be used only with power-vent /exhaust motor equipped hot water heaters also known as an induced draft gas water heaters (also CPVC and ABS but some manufacturer and local restriction may apply to all 3 types).
Combustion Air for Fuel Burning Appliances
Combustion Air
Combustion air is required for all types of fuel burning appliances in our homes to properly burn that fuel.
Combustion air has three functions:
It is required to properly burn fuel
To dilute exhaust gases that are being vented to exterior
To vent and cool appliances
The most popular fuel used in our homes is of course natural gas.
For every one cubic foot of gas, there are 10 cubic feet of combustion air needed for clean burning in addition to dilution and ventilation air.
There are two products out of a perfectly balanced gas combustion – carbon dioxide and water vapor, which are perfectly safe. [...]
Gas-Appliance Chimney Placement and Termination
Furnace and / or water heater chimney requires proper placement and termination to safely discharge exhaust gases from the appliances combustion (fuel burning) process. Improper chimney placement and termination is often responsible for back-drafts, excessive corrosion of the chimney pipe walls, condensation, and Carbon Monoxide contamination of your house.
The rule explained on the pictures is just one of the several that have to be applied when installing the chimney. Make sure that you have a licensed professional performing gas water heater & furnace flue sizing calculations while replacing or adding any of those appliances in your home.
Natural (gravity) and motor [...]
Gas Water Heater and Furnace Chimney Flue Size Calculations
Chimney Flue Size Calculations
The following gas water heater and furnace chimney flue size calculations are based on Peoples Gas “Construction Guide for Gas Usage” in the city of Chicago and National Fuel Gas Code. Before applying any of the following rules, you must check your local building code requirements, and appliance manufacturer installation instruction.
Have you checked your house brick chimney lately… or whatever type of the chimney you have?
Did you have a new furnace or water heater installed / was your house chimney flue recalculated for those new appliances?
Make sure that you chimney flue size / diameter is correct; [...]
House Water Heater Vent Pipe, How To Do It Right
Improper house gas water heater venting could be hazardous for you. Have a look at the pictures, and get it right, get it now – it’s easy and it can save your life.