Indirect water heaters can be powered by gas, electric, oil, or propane, and operate like direct water heaters. However, instead of having a heating mechanism inside the tank, it uses the heat from your furnace or boiler. Your furnace or boiler
will have a pipe attached to the water heater
.
How far does a water heater have to be from a furnace?
2 Answers. According to International Residential Code (IRC), you'll need to provide a
30′′ x 30′′ level working space
for servicing and inspection of both appliances. You'll also have to follow the manufacturers installation instructions, for clearances from combustible materials and any other restrictions.
Can water heater and furnace be vented together?
Many homes are built with the water heater and
furnace sharing the same exhaust vent
. This practice is common with standard efficiency (80%) furnaces. When installed correctly, this venting arrangement works with an 80% gas furnace (or less than 80%) + gas water heater.
Can I direct vent my water heater?
Power direct vents are used when the space in which you are installing a water heater lacks sufficient air for combustion and requires flexibility around the installation. … Similar to the power vent design, a power direct vent water heater can utilize PVC piping to reduce installation costs.
Does a water heater have a heat exchanger?
In an immersed coil installation,
the hot water tank contains a heat exchanger
that is connected to a furnace, boiler, or heat pump. In a tankless coil installation, the water heating coil is located in the furnace or boiler, eliminating the need for a hot water storage tank.
Where should a furnace be located in a house?
Typically your furnace is
centrally located in the home
. It is usually located in an area such as a utility closet (by a cold air return), garage, attic, basement, or crawlspace; in the case of a heat-pump (a dual-system) it will be located outside of the home.
Does a direct vent water heater need electricity?
Must Use Electricity: The blower in power vent water
heaters must be attached to an electrical source to run
. Depending on where your water heater will be located, you may have to install an extra electrical outlet nearby, which is another cost factor.
Can I replace a power vent water heater with a direct vent?
Direct venting and power venting systems offer greater flexibility, because neither requires a direct line to the roof. … This difference in operation means that you can install a direct vent system
almost anywhere
, but a power vented water heater must be placed in a room with adequate airflow.
What are the disadvantages of a heat pump?
- High upfront cost.
- Difficult to install.
- Questionable Sustainability.
- Requires significant work.
- Issues in cold weather.
- Not entirely carbon neutral.
- Planning permissions required.
How many gallons should my water heater be?
But if you only need a loose estimate of what size you need (versus an exact calculation), follow these guidelines: For
1 to 2 people: 30-40 gallons
.
For 2 to 3 people: 40-50 gallons
.
For 3 to 4 people: 50-60 gallons
.
Which type of heating system do you have in your home?
While furnaces can heat the air with electricity, propane, or oil, most U.S. homes utilize
natural gas
. Gas furnaces are the most popular type of heating system since the forced air distribution system (ductwork) can be used by your air conditioner during the summer months.
Does a furnace have to be in the center of the house?
Furnaces should be
installed in your basement or a mechanical room near the center of your house
— not in a vented attic, vented crawl space, or garage.
Can a furnace be in a closet?
The heat can safely escape if there is space around the furnace.
Do not install your furnace in a storage closet
. Any type of flammable material, including insulation, needs to be removed before installing the furnace.
How hard is it to relocate a furnace?
As LordFrith said, the moving is the easy part. Wiring to the furnace, plumbing (gas or oil), and exhaust/chimney are going to be the hard parts. If you want to move it
a few feet
, that's very likely doable. If you are talking across the room, it gets much more difficult.
What is the difference between direct vent and atmospheric vent?
Basically, the difference between the two is that the
power vent water heater removes combustion gases from the atmosphere via a powered venting fan
, while a direct vent water heater vents these gases into the outdoor atmosphere using a chimney or exhaust pipe.
