powervented water heater install
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Master Plumber Mark
Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
power vents
they are usually provided with a pig tail and
about 8 feet of wire with a plug on the end
I think its a good idea to put the power vent on
a surge protecter just in cast of a major power rush that
could fry out the circuit board.
how far do you need to run one anyway??
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Model mitw50 Bradford White Brand
3 inch PVC horizontal run is 90 feet with a max of 3 90 elbows
with a slight fall back to the heater.
----------------
up hill vertical is 40 foot max of 3 elbows
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2 in horizontal 30 foot
vertical 2 inch 22 feet max of 3 90 elbows
just make it look neat and its best to give it a little
clearance 1 inch or so from other objects along the way if possible...
stick it out of the building and use a 45 to vent it downward
bradford white and Rheem are the very units to use
they are usually provided with a pig tail and
about 8 feet of wire with a plug on the end
I think its a good idea to put the power vent on
a surge protecter just in cast of a major power rush that
could fry out the circuit board.
how far do you need to run one anyway??
--------------------------------------------------------------
Model mitw50 Bradford White Brand
3 inch PVC horizontal run is 90 feet with a max of 3 90 elbows
with a slight fall back to the heater.
----------------
up hill vertical is 40 foot max of 3 elbows
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2 in horizontal 30 foot
vertical 2 inch 22 feet max of 3 90 elbows
just make it look neat and its best to give it a little
clearance 1 inch or so from other objects along the way if possible...
stick it out of the building and use a 45 to vent it downward
bradford white and Rheem are the very units to use
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Thanks master mark. I am thinking of installing two powervented units, vs. two electric units. The electric heaters are of course cheaper to install but I would have to hire an electrician as well. I was hoping that I could wire up the powervented units myself, and avoid this cost. I am looking for the lowest cost since I am selling the house.
Venting would probably run less than 25 feet total, maybe as little as 5 feet.
Do they simply plug into a regular outlet or is a dedicated circuit required?
thanks for the help
Venting would probably run less than 25 feet total, maybe as little as 5 feet.
Do they simply plug into a regular outlet or is a dedicated circuit required?
thanks for the help
Gary Swart
In the Trades
There is very little electrical draw, so it is not necessary to have a dedicated circuit, but I would not use an extension cord. If there is no outlet close, then either add to an existing circuit or run a new circuit. They are equipped with power cord ready to plug in. The heaters should have the vent requirements/limitations included. My old one had to have a 4" pipe and was limited to about 30 feet. Newer ones use smaller pipe and can go much further. The distance is reduced by the elbows used, but from your description, that won't be even close to a factor.
Master Plumber Mark
Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
selling the house??
do you now presently have power vented uinits or do you have
electric ones??
Its best , in my opinion, just to stick with what is simple
and cheaper ,, especially if you are selling the place.
If yoiu got the 220 volt already there , install one large 80 gallon electric
and just forget about installing 2 power vents..
neeed more info
do you now presently have power vented uinits or do you have
electric ones??
Its best , in my opinion, just to stick with what is simple
and cheaper ,, especially if you are selling the place.
If yoiu got the 220 volt already there , install one large 80 gallon electric
and just forget about installing 2 power vents..
neeed more info
selling house
Well, let me tell you the story. In Minneapolis, the city requires the seller to have a truth in housing inspection, to make sure certain things are up to code. My water heaters, which I had installed 1 year ago by a friend, were not up to code regarding having 3/4" rigid supplies, and the venting was loose, without 3 screws per connection. The fix was supposed to be simple, but on top of being required to hire a plumber(it's a duplex), when the vent was pulled out of the chimney(home is blt. 1890), the chimney was found to be collapsed.
Option one was to clean out the chimney and add a liner. This is somewhat risky, because the whole chimney may be collapsed inside.
Option two was to use another, unused, lined chimney, but it is located on the other side of the basement, and would require a lot of copper re-routing.
Option three, then, is to install two electric units, and have them wired by an electrician.
And, finally, option four is to use two powervented units, and find a space to vent them. I think that I could add some outlets nearby, although the city inspector might wonder who did the work.
So, at this time, all options are open to me, I am just trying to figure out the least expensive way to go about it. It's hard to get people to give multiple quotes on different versions of the same job, so I'm trying to figure it out myself. I am physically able to do most of the work, but am required to hire it out by the city.
Well, let me tell you the story. In Minneapolis, the city requires the seller to have a truth in housing inspection, to make sure certain things are up to code. My water heaters, which I had installed 1 year ago by a friend, were not up to code regarding having 3/4" rigid supplies, and the venting was loose, without 3 screws per connection. The fix was supposed to be simple, but on top of being required to hire a plumber(it's a duplex), when the vent was pulled out of the chimney(home is blt. 1890), the chimney was found to be collapsed.
Option one was to clean out the chimney and add a liner. This is somewhat risky, because the whole chimney may be collapsed inside.
Option two was to use another, unused, lined chimney, but it is located on the other side of the basement, and would require a lot of copper re-routing.
Option three, then, is to install two electric units, and have them wired by an electrician.
And, finally, option four is to use two powervented units, and find a space to vent them. I think that I could add some outlets nearby, although the city inspector might wonder who did the work.
So, at this time, all options are open to me, I am just trying to figure out the least expensive way to go about it. It's hard to get people to give multiple quotes on different versions of the same job, so I'm trying to figure it out myself. I am physically able to do most of the work, but am required to hire it out by the city.
Master Plumber Mark
Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
get an electrician
boy it sounds like you opened a nasty can of worms
ony if the new buyer insists on gas water heaters
would I opt to go to all the trouble and expence of power vents.....
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expence wise , get an estimate on what it would cost to have
220 volt run for the 1 heater or the 2 heaters??
make sure you got room in the electrical box fo rthe 220 volts
1..you would eliminate all the venting issues, all the gas issues ect...
2. the electric heater is very QUIET ---the power vents are not quiet....
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3. electric heaters are very easy to service compaired to
the power vent units and will go longer without troubles...IMHO
4 . if the renters are the ones that have to pay the electric bill,
then who really cares about them anyway,
and its clear sailing in my opinion.
the electric heaters will cost the next guy about double to
heat the water per year..... it all depends on who pays the bill.
.
all this you can tell the new buyer...if questioned about your reasons
it sounds like you got stuck with two brand new gas
water heaters ,, what are your plans with them??
boy it sounds like you opened a nasty can of worms
ony if the new buyer insists on gas water heaters
would I opt to go to all the trouble and expence of power vents.....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
expence wise , get an estimate on what it would cost to have
220 volt run for the 1 heater or the 2 heaters??
make sure you got room in the electrical box fo rthe 220 volts
1..you would eliminate all the venting issues, all the gas issues ect...
2. the electric heater is very QUIET ---the power vents are not quiet....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. electric heaters are very easy to service compaired to
the power vent units and will go longer without troubles...IMHO
4 . if the renters are the ones that have to pay the electric bill,
then who really cares about them anyway,
and its clear sailing in my opinion.
the electric heaters will cost the next guy about double to
heat the water per year..... it all depends on who pays the bill.
.
all this you can tell the new buyer...if questioned about your reasons
it sounds like you got stuck with two brand new gas
water heaters ,, what are your plans with them??
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worms
Well, you are right about the can of worms. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I was trying to let them have what they wanted, because they are moving in here. Now they are in the middle of the plumbing project, and I am in there with them, arranging everything. they are willing to pay what is over and above the cost of installing electric units. They are getting their own plumber's estimate tomorrow. I don't understand why they are so insistent on getting these powervented units. It seems absurd to me to pay about $1200 or more extra just to have them. They would be better off just letting me put in the electric ones, and paying a bit higher bill, don't you think? What is the main draw about them?
-Biff
Well, you are right about the can of worms. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I was trying to let them have what they wanted, because they are moving in here. Now they are in the middle of the plumbing project, and I am in there with them, arranging everything. they are willing to pay what is over and above the cost of installing electric units. They are getting their own plumber's estimate tomorrow. I don't understand why they are so insistent on getting these powervented units. It seems absurd to me to pay about $1200 or more extra just to have them. They would be better off just letting me put in the electric ones, and paying a bit higher bill, don't you think? What is the main draw about them?
-Biff
1 year old water heaters x 2
As far as the "old" water heaters, I don't know. Perhaps my new house will need new ones. I may use them for heating radiant flooring, or build a special bathtub with two dedicated water heaters. I don't really know.
Seriously, perhaps I could sell them.
As far as the "old" water heaters, I don't know. Perhaps my new house will need new ones. I may use them for heating radiant flooring, or build a special bathtub with two dedicated water heaters. I don't really know.
Seriously, perhaps I could sell them.
Master Plumber Mark
Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
power vents for rental units??
they are thinking you are takeing the cheap path
which is honestly the better path, especially for
rental property, (as I stated in that last post)
so in their minds, they want "their monies worth""
out of you and not a dime less.???
power vents are not cheap, and usually in our area
a 50 gallon goes for somewhere in the range of about 1300-1600
thats including running the pvc vent with a 6 year tank warranty...
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have you considered offering them
"lifetime electric water heaters"????
they are made by RHEEM and called Marathons and
are sold at Menards ....for about 550 each.
as long as their name is on the bill of sale, and the units
are purchased by them or for them as present legal owners of
the property, its good for life...
I dont think the warranty is transferrable , so dont make
that mistake...
------------------------------------------------------------------
But, I guess if they are willing to pay the extra money
above the price of the electric units you are not hurt
too badly....so it could be a lot worse.....
at least you are not at each others throats..
The gas units you have do have some value, to someone.
they are thinking you are takeing the cheap path
which is honestly the better path, especially for
rental property, (as I stated in that last post)
so in their minds, they want "their monies worth""
out of you and not a dime less.???
power vents are not cheap, and usually in our area
a 50 gallon goes for somewhere in the range of about 1300-1600
thats including running the pvc vent with a 6 year tank warranty...
----------------------------------------------------------------
have you considered offering them
"lifetime electric water heaters"????
they are made by RHEEM and called Marathons and
are sold at Menards ....for about 550 each.
as long as their name is on the bill of sale, and the units
are purchased by them or for them as present legal owners of
the property, its good for life...
I dont think the warranty is transferrable , so dont make
that mistake...
------------------------------------------------------------------
But, I guess if they are willing to pay the extra money
above the price of the electric units you are not hurt
too badly....so it could be a lot worse.....
at least you are not at each others throats..
The gas units you have do have some value, to someone.
Last edited:
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