5 Venting Options For Your Tankless Water Heater

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Tankless water heaters are an economical option due to their high energy efficiency and can help you save on your utility bill. Choosing the right venting system is crucial to your safety and for the smooth functioning of the water heater. Here are a few water heater tips to help you figure out the suitable kind of venting option for your water heater.

1) Indoor or outdoor?

Indoor tankless water heaters require access to outdoor air which they utilize for combustion purposes. They also require an outlet for the air released in the water heating process. There are two types of vents to choose from for indoor water heaters- direct vent and power vent. Direct vent units have one intake vent and one exhaust vent. Direct vent units are compact and take up very little space, making them ideal for indoor tankless water heaters. Power vents comprise of an exhaust fan which is also used to draw in outside air to fuel the combustion process of the water heater. This vent requires more space due to higher air-flow demands.

Tankless water heaters are self-heating and can withstand freezing temperatures without causing problems that require tankless water heater repair. Thus, they can be placed outdoors and save valuable indoor space, especially for smaller homes. Outdoor tankless water heaters do not call for additional venting solutions.

2) Multiple venting options

Venting options for your water heater are not limited to the roof. Tankless water heaters can be vented through the exterior side walls, as compared to the conventional tank water heater which must be vented through the roof as they exhaust the gases horizontally and can use the walls as an outlet source. This opens up many options for venting the water heater and preventing tankless water heater repair issues. Contact your trusted Edmonton plumbing service to help determine the most appropriate venting option for your tankless water heater.


3) Condensing tankless water heaters are very economical

Modern tankless water heaters are equipped with condensing technology with lower installation costs. This technology utilizes two heat exchangers to extract as much heat as possible from the fuel source. The result is a unit that performs far more efficiently and expels a much cooler exhaust gas. This means the exhaust vent can be made of less expensive polypropylene or PVC, effectively lowering the cost of installation. Operational costs are further lowered with a more efficient unit as well, resulting in a double payback of your investment.

4) Concentric design increases safety

One of the most important water heater tips is the installation of a concentric vent owing to its safety design. A concentric vent design consists of insulated intake and outtake pipes within the 5-inch concentric vent which enable the water heater to remain cold on the outside and prevent the risk of burn injuries from coming into contact with a hot water heater. Faulty exhaust pipes, which can leak carbon-monoxide, are not a safety hazard with concentric vents as the toxic gas is contained within the concentric vent and does not pollute the air you breathe.

5) Aesthetic options

Certain, newer homes have special recess boxes which are built to hold non-condensing tankless water heaters into the house framing itself, instead of hanging off the side of an exterior wall.

Pipe covers and creative termination points provide aesthetically pleasing options to cover your vents. Get in touch with your local Edmonton plumbing service to determine your options and install attractive vent covers for your tankless water heaters.


These water heater tips will guide you to choose the right type of venting unit for your tankless water heater and optimize your utility bills as well as increase the safety and elegance of your home.

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