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    bjohn221's Avatar
    bjohn221 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jan 8, 2009, 11:18 AM
    Power vent water heater verus a direct vent water heater
    I am replacing a leaking 40 gallon reliance gas water heater. The former owner put in a regular (not power or direct vent water heater) illegally. I want to replace the heater with a power vent model but there is no electricity in tbe closet. In addition, if there is a power outage, there will be not hot water. There is the proper thimble vent pipe situated in the closet to connect the exhaust pipe to. I want to know if I can put a direct vented water heater in the place of a power vented heater. Thank you.
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jan 8, 2009, 01:06 PM
    no electricity in tbe closet

    You will have to install a outlet

    in the event that there is a power outage, there will be not hot water

    Correct. You will be showering with cold water.

    A direct vent heater is just what it says. You CANNOT hook to a thimble in the closet. You will have to make a hole in the wall to the outside and DIRECT VENT IT. That is why they call them direct vent.

    I do not have one. I do not want one. The regular water heaters work well without the problems associated with direct vent.
    dac122's Avatar
    dac122 Posts: 463, Reputation: 17
    Full Member
    		  
    #3

    Jan 8, 2009, 02:41 PM

    Buy a large UPS for your computer and use it to power your tank during a power outage. It should give your tank a few recovery cycles before draining the battery.

    Wish I did not have my direct vent B&W, but that's what you get with Contemporary architectures.
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