Water Heater Vent Roof Clearance

Cut a hole through the roof and interior ceiling to accommodate the vent pipes.

Water heater vent roof clearance. Except for flat and very low slope roofs such as those listed in the table below b vents should be at least two feet above the roof surface as well. 6 minimum clearance from single wall vent pipe or flue vent connector to any combustible material. Complete the vent pipe installation to the water heater s vent connector fittings. Single wall vents should have a minimum of 6 inches of clearance and double wall sometimes called a b vent should have 1 inch minimum clearance.

Water heaters with power venting come with an electric blower fan often very quiet installed on top of the water heater and can have either vertical or horizontal vent ducts. Single wall vent pipes cannot pass through a ceiling floor firewall or wall. In direct vent applications this clearance distance must be in compliance with local building codes the requirements of the fuel gas supplier for the heating appliance in use and the appliance manufacturer s instructions. The manufacture even stamps this into the vent.

Maintain the recommended air space clearance to combustible materials and building insulation. Maximum horizontal section of the furnace water heater double wall vent pipe cannot be longer than 100 of the vertical vent pipe length. Metal vents that are too close to wood or combustionable materials may cause the wood to burst into flames. Use cleaner primer and pvc cement where the vent pipes join the water heater.

Since the vent does not rely on the buoyancy of hot air it can be run horizontally to the outside of the house. For gas fired water heater vents. See the detailed b vent chimney rooftop clearance table below. For non direct vent applications that is side wall venting only the required clearance is 7 feet.

Basement finishing projects are notorious for this code violation. Cut away the wood that s too close. If you are using a b vent typically a double walled air insulated vent for gas appliances typically you ll see a fire clearance stamped right into the metal of the chimney stating 1 inch minimum clearance to combustibles as you ll see in this photo. In an attempt to maximize finished floor space when boxing off the water heater from the rest of the room people often don t leave enough clearance between the new wall framing and the vent pipes.

Furnace water heater vent pipe clearance double wall typical listed and labeled double wall vent pipe clearance to combustible materials is one inch but you should always check before installation.