Power Venting Dilemma (floors, furnace, water heater, appliance) - House -remodeling, decorating, construction, energy use, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, building, rooms - City-Data Forum

Raserion · 04-16-2015, 08:46 PM

Hi everyone.

[edit: I am replacing a 30 gallon electric water heater that's on its last legs with a 50 gallon natural gas one]

Is it is better to have my gas furnace and water heater (both are natural draft) have their own power vent/flue or can they share one provided that I get the correct control kits and ensure the power vent and flue are capable of handling the combined BTU output? I live in Massachusetts by the way. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I'm looking at getting one Tjernlund HS1 power vent (includes UC1 control board), a WHKE millivolt interlock kit for water heater, and a MAC1E multiple appliance interlock kit. This will supposedly let me vent both the furnace and water heater with one power vent and flue.

K'ledgeBldr · 04-16-2015, 09:01 PM

Don't fix what ain't broke!!!

Raserion · 04-16-2015, 09:12 PM

I guess I should've mentioned that I am replacing a 30 gallon electric water heater that's on its last legs with a 50 gallon natural gas one and I removed the chimney so I need to make some changes to the existing setup.

btuhack · 04-16-2015, 09:28 PM

What problem is the power vent solving?

Raserion · 04-16-2015, 09:32 PM

Exhausting flue gases. My furnace is off and my new gas water heater is still in the box in the basement.

MrRational · 04-16-2015, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raserion

with a 50 gallon natural gas one
and the furnace is incorrectly vented through a crumbling chimney...

How old is the furnace?
How soon is it likely to warrant replacing?
When that happens... the new one won't vent through the chimney.

As to the "crumbling' chimney... set a s/s liner in it.

Raserion · 04-16-2015, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRational

How old is the furnace?
How soon is it likely to warrant replacing?
When that happens... the new one won't vent through the chimney.

As to the "crumbling' chimney... set a s/s liner in it.

I'm not sure how old it is. It is a stainless steel Sabre boiler by Hydrotherm and it works great so far (I only bought the house in January).

I've actually already removed the chimney so that's why I'm looking into power venting.

MrRational · 04-16-2015, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raserion

I'm not sure how old it is.
I've actually already removed the chimney so that's why I'm looking into power venting.

Fix the chimney or install new liners.
Your cheapest solution is to buy another electric water heater

Raserion · 04-16-2015, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRational

Fix the chimney or install new liners.
Your cheapest solution is to buy another electric water heater

I unfortunately cannot fix it as it doesn't exist anymore and the floors are closed up. Electricity is expensive here so that's why I bought a gas one to replace it. Thanks for your quick replies!

MrRational · 04-16-2015, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raserion

I unfortunately cannot fix it as it doesn't exist anymore and the floors are closed up.

Of course you can "fix it"

Well, maybe not YOU but any reasonably competent carpenter can.
Add a bit of duct fitting into the mix and you're done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwvxG9acosY