Hot Water Heater Flue Pipe Clearance

This construction defect is considered a fire hazard.

Hot water heater flue pipe clearance.

A vent pipe is an important part of the gas water heater maintenance don t forget your schedule. Even if you keep the clearances at the entrance and exit from that space whatever section is inside must be double wall type pipe. Metal single wall and double wall. Single wall vents get very hot requiring a 6 in.

Water heater venting basics. 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. Furnace water heater vent pipe clearance single wall. Home plumbing water heater water heater vent clearance to wood or combustionable materials.

Gas fired heating equipment. Single wall vent pipes cannot pass through a ceiling floor firewall or wall. 1 inch or 6 inches water heater vents generally are of two types. Make the vent pipe section between the water heater and the chimney as short and as straight as possible.

For gas fired water heater vents. Basement finishing projects are notorious for this code violation. Here s an example of what i say. Note some modern high efficiency water heater may have pvc vents.

The duct may be metal or plastic depending on the type of vent system. Metal flue fire clearance requirements single wall metal pipe flues gas fired equipment. The minimum distance between the single wall vent pipe and combustible materials is 6 the single wall vent pipe cannot be concealed inside the wall or floor. 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.

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. 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. An exception is made for non combustible walls such as solid masonry or concrete. The water heater vent pipe is too close to combustible material and should be serviced before the close of escrow.

Fire clearances required range from 6 to 36 depending on the equipment.