Adding Power Vent to Existing Water Heater

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Thank you PlumbDrum for the useful information. You have proven your point to me. I do not think I would want to install the exterior power vent for a customer if they wanted me to. Too much potential liability for me to feel comfortable with. Someone else can and will install it instead of me. Thanks again for the good information.
 
No problem man, again I'm not a fan of it myself, but it is an approved install and I was answering the original post. I'm glad I can finally put this to bed. Lol


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How much more info does anybody else need to prove that this is correct on this topic?


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Don't count on it I'm sure CHRISM will have more to say. :D

"Hello Johnjh2o",

I totally misunderstood the scenario that was being asked about on this thread - something that I am extremely embarrassed about.

As I explained in a previous message I thought that the OP wanted to know if a `Power Vent` Fan could be installed on the manufacturers provided Vent / Flue Pipe / Vent Kit installed on a Gas Water Heater - thereby `altering the Manufacturers design / specification / Installation Instructions` - and invalidating the U.S. / State Safety Approval Certification for that Gas Appliance.


I would have thought that after I realised that this was NOT what plumdrum / Chris was stating could be achieved - and I then explained my misunderstanding and Apologised to Chris / plumdrum in a very detailed message explaining my position - that this would have merited at least an acknowledgement that I acted `Honourably` on this thread when I realised my misunderstanding.


My ONLY motive for posting my `Danger ! Danger ! Danger !` Warning message was Gas Safety - I thought from previous experience on this Forum that there was a definite shortage of Qualified Gas Engineers on here - so I wanted to act quickly with my Warning message - unfortunately I did misunderstand what was being advised by plumdrum / Chris.

This is my final comment on this thread - unless of course any Member posts something derogatory about Me.

Regards,

Chris
 
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Your a gentleman who I could call a friend in this site. I agree with some of the threads that I've read about some of the qualifications/ knowledge in some of the posts I've read, especially gas/ vent work. Now I'm off to drink a pint
Cheers
Chris


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Your a gentleman who I could call a friend in this site. I agree with some of the threads that I've read about some of the qualifications/ knowledge in some of the posts I've read, especially gas/ vent work. Now I'm off to drink a pint
Cheers
Chris


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"Hello again Chris",

After reading your very complimentary comments I changed my mind about my previous message to Johnjh2o being my last on this thread.

Once again I apologise for my misunderstanding which led to the debacle between Us - it was your obvious knowledge and conviction that you were correct in what you stated which made Me think " - Have I misunderstood something about this original question / your advice to the OP".

I then realised that the answer was "YES " !


Obviously this would NOT have occurred in the `Real World` of Gas Engineering / Contracting in either the U.S. or the U.K. if We were liaising about something like this as We would have been actually speaking to each other - where any misunderstanding would have been quickly realised / corrected during the conversation.

I hope that You enjoy your `Pint` - unfortunately here in England / U.K. it is now almost 01:00 Hours so going out locally for a Pint is not possible.

My Regards to You - from one Gentleman to another.


Chris
 
I really want to hug something right now.

Nice to see a meeting of the minds instead of agression when the opportunity to understand something presents itself.

That's what makes this forum very different from others.

Nice job, guys.
 
Danger ! Danger ! Danger !


UNLESS FITTING A MANUFACTURERS APPROVED COMPONENT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES `ADAPT` THE VENT [FLUE] OF ANY GAS APPLIANCE !

"Hello plumdrum",

I have replied to the OP / akroh and You - quoting You because You stated that what He asked about would be achievable:


I am a qualified and registered Gas Engineer in the U.K.



Altering ANY aspect of a Gas appliance will invalidate the Manufacturers specification and the Certification as `Safe and Fit for Purpose`.


The specifications / design and installation requirements of ALL Gas appliances are approved by whatever Governing body oversees the design and approval of Gas appliances in the U.S. and certifies them as Safe for Sale / Installation.

ANY alteration of a Gas appliance could cause IMMEDIATE DANGER to Life and Property.


In this case fitting a `Power Vent` Fan would almost certainly have a detrimental effect on the Burners and could cause the Flames on the Burner to be pulled off !


I am CERTAIN that what has been proposed about fitting a `Power Vent` to the Gas Water Heater would NOT be either approved or condoned by the Manufacturer and IF it was done this would put the `Installer` of the Power Vent into an extremely serious / legally vulnerable position.


In the U.K. any alteration such as this would put the installer into the position of being prosecuted under the Gas Safety Regulations - the Gas appliance would be deemed to be `Immediately Dangerous` because the Manufacturers design / Safety specification and approval had been altered.


The Gas appliance being `adapted` in this way could also cause the person who did so to be prosecuted on a charge of `Endangering Life` !


I am sure that there must be such a legal process in place in the U.S. - ?

A less important but still very important consideration would also be that `Adapting` a Gas appliance would doubtless render the Home`s Insurance invalid for any claim resulting from the malfunction [or worse !] of the Gas appliance.

I have not been active on this Forum for quite some time but I still receive Emails which list a variety of Topics - this was the case Today and I came on to look at this thread.

As a Gas Engineer I am dedicated to Gas Safety and I decided to sign in Today to post my comments / `Advice`.


Hopefully this will override the advice of Plumbers who just happen to know that a particular Power Vent products exist and THINK that they can be fitted to a Gas appliance. - OR at least cause the OP / akroh to obtain information / an opinion from a GAS ENGINEER who WILL inform them of the details that I stated here.


I am sure that the OP / akroh knows that Rheem and other Water Heater manufacturers do manufacture a Power Vent model of Gas Water Heater but I am guessing that the Homeowner wants to `Convert` the existing Gas Water Heater which will not be possible.


If the replies to this take the attitude that I came to expect when I was active on this Forum there will no doubt be responses that disagree with what I wrote from people who know next to nothing about Gas Safety / Gas appliances.

I have worded this `Strongly` because interfering with a Gas appliance installation is DANGEROUS.


Regards,

Chris
 

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