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5 Benefits of a Power Vent Water Heater

April 1, 2021 0 Comments

We all rely on the amenities of our home, from lights to temperature control to even something as simple as running water. When we flick on switches or turn on faucets, we expect them to work, and we rely on them to work numerous times every single day. But while these amenities are crucial to our daily habits, tasks, and responsibilities, there are certain choices you can make regarding the type, the style, and purpose of the equipment and appliances that provide a lot of these amenities. Whether it’s choosing a AC unit that is quiet and powerful or interior lighting that is more ambient and energy-efficient, we make decisions about the small but important details  that personalize these appliances to do their job in the way we want and need them to in our homes.

Our water heaters and their accessories are no different; there are a variety of water heater brands, as well as different ways of powering and heating, and even additional accessories that offer certain benefits. One of the decisions regarding your water heater that you may have to make is choosing between a direct vent water heater and a power vent water heater. Like all of the decisions regarding your appliances that you have made and will make, there are pros and cons to using power vent water heaters versus direct vent water heaters. Today in this blog, we are going to dive more into the power vent water heater, and the potential benefits it can offer to you and your home. And if you settle on your need for a power vent water heater, Ace Hi Plumbing Offers a wide variety of plumbing and HVAC services, including reliable power vent water heater installation, repair, and consultation.

Freedom of Location

One of the biggest benefits of a power vent water heater is the freedom of location where you can install your water heater. For more typical water heaters that use a direct vent system, the only way to safely and properly vent out the water heater exhaust gases is to have an entirely clear vertical space above your water heater, so that the toxic gasses can safely rise up and out of your home. But with a power vent water heater, an electronically powered fan pushes the gases with airflow where you need them to go, which means that instead of only having a select few locations that can fit the vertical space required for direct venting, your vent system can be more complementary to whatever space you want to put your water heater in. 

More Energy Efficiency

A power vent water heater also offers more energy efficiency when compared to a direct vent water heater. By utilizing a fan to operate the power vent, your water heater will require less gas to operate, which means it will require less energy to operate, and it will cost less to operate. Not only is that good for you and your wallet, but it is also good for the environment and helps limit the larger national reliance on electric grid limitations. While the monthly savings on your energy bill won’t be very much, it can add up over time, as well as limiting your home’s individual strain on the larger electrical power grid. 

Eliminate Potential of Backdraft

Another very valuable benefit of a power vent water heater is eliminating the potential of backdraft. Backdraft is when the exhaust gas that is produced by your water heater fails to properly vent, and starts to accumulate in the vent. If it continues to accumulate in the vent, it can start leaking these toxic exhaust gases into your home, putting you and your family at risk. But with a power vent water heater, the air flow created by the power vent fan is reliable and eliminates the potential of any backdraft of exhaust gases by properly venting out the exhaust gas and eliminating the possibility of accumulation. With a power vent water heater, you can sleep a little safer without having to worry about the potential hazard of water heater backdraft. 

Mitigate Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Another equally beneficial characteristic of a power vent water heater is that it can mitigate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The paragraph above talks about the potential dangers of backdraft and the buildup of exhaust gases that can start to leak into your home, but one of those gases that is particularly dangerous is carbon monoxide. It’s particularly dangerous because not only is it lethal when ingested in high amounts, but it is odorless and colorless and makes you sleepy, which makes it nearly impossible to detect and much more difficult to escape if there is a CO leak that is poisoning you. A power vent water heater can’t completely eliminate the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning from these exhaust gases, but a reliable fan system that creates  effective air flow for these exhaust gases to escape your home is an important and valuable way to mitigate against the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Great For Compact Homes

The last but certainly not the least benefit of a power vent water heater is how effective it can be for compact homes. For larger homes with lots of space, placement of appliances that are out of sight isn’t a very difficult task. But many modern homes are being constructed with more of an emphasis on “tighter” building, as it uses less resources and requires less energy to power your home which makes your home more energy efficient. But the downside of this “tighter” building is that there is a lot less of a natural draft throughout your home for venting out these gases, which could be putting you and your family at the risk of backdraft and/or carbon monoxide poisoning. A power vent water heater helps combat that risk by supplying powered air flow that makes the need of a natural draft irrelevant.

Power Vent Water Heaters in Fort Collins – Ace Hi Plumbing

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into any decision you have to make for your home appliances, and especially your water heater. A direct vent water heater might work for some households, but there are a wide variety of benefits that a power vent water heater can offer to your home. If you’re in the market for a power vent water heater, Ace Hi Plumbing Is here to provide for your needs. We have been serving the Front Range area with high-quality plumbing and HVAC services for 25 years now, and we would be happy to answer any questions you have about a power vent water heater, or provide the power vent water heater installation and repair services you may need. Contact us today to get started! 

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