Hot Water Heater Flue Pipe Clearance

Gas fired heating equipment.

Hot water heater flue pipe clearance.

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. This construction defect is considered a fire hazard. Metal flue fire clearance requirements single wall metal pipe flues gas fired equipment. An exception is made for non combustible walls such as solid masonry or concrete.

1 inch or 6 inches water heater vents generally are of two types. The water heater vent pipe is too close to combustible material and should be serviced before the close of escrow. Furnace water heater vent pipe clearance single wall. Fire clearances required range from 6 to 36 depending on the equipment.

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. Single wall vents get very hot requiring a 6 in. Metal single wall and double wall. 9 is a typical clearance between a gas fired boiler or furnace flue connector and combustibles.

Basement finishing projects are notorious for this code violation. 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. Even if you keep the clearances at the entrance and exit from that space whatever section is inside must be double wall type pipe. Water heater venting basics.

6 minimum clearance from single wall vent pipe or flue vent connector to any combustible material. 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. Here s an example of what i say. 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.

The duct may be metal or plastic depending on the type of vent system. For gas fired water heater vents. Note some modern high efficiency water heater may have pvc vents. Home plumbing water heater water heater vent clearance to wood or combustionable materials.

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