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Do tankless water heaters need to vent

Author

Isabella Harris

Updated on April 02, 2026

No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.

Do I need to vent my tankless water heater?

No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.

Do electric tankless water heaters need a vent?

Electric tankless units do not require any type of venting, however, they do require a substantial amount of electricity. … Outdoor gas tankless water heaters do not require venting, however, they do require a minimum amount of space around the unit.

What is the code for venting a tankless water heater?

The water heater must be vented in accordance with the section “Venting of Equipment” of the latest edition of the National Fuel Gas Code: ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 in the United States and/or Section 7 of the CAN/CSA B149.

Can you vent a tankless water heater with PVC?

He recommends a tankless unit with a built-in safety mechanism that powers down the appliance just in case temperatures go above the limits for PVC. The Rinnai Sensei tankless water heater offers 14 possible venting configurations and can use PVC, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), or polypropylene venting.

Can you vent a tankless water heater in the attic?

Gas tankless water heaters don’t have to use indoor air for combustion. Tankless water heaters can be vented in two ways: power-vent or direct-vent. … Because direct-vent units use outdoor air, they can be placed in smaller spaces, such as an attic, closet, or small mechanical room.

Can a tankless water heater be enclosed?

The tankless water heater is small in size. Thus it can be put in small spaces such as under-stair storage areas, closets, in pantries or under the sink. … A tankless water heater is for indoor installation only. In case you install it outside, get a suitable enclosure.

What is the downside of a tankless water heater?

The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than tank-style heaters. Including installation, tankless water heaters cost 3 times more than tank-style water heaters on average. … they cannot provide hot water during a power outage.

Can tankless water heater be installed outside?

Yes – there are outdoor tankless water heater units that are made to withstand the elements BUT – it is recommended that electric tankless water heaters be provided with some form of shelter. Gas powered tankless water heaters that are placed outdoors do not require any form of protective shelter.

How much ventilation does an electric water heater need?

As a general rule, water heaters need 50 cubic feet of air per 1,000 BTUs/hr. For example, a water heater with an input of 40,000 BTUs/hr should be in a room (often the garage) with at least 2,000 cubic feet of air.

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Can furnace and water heater share vent?

Many homes are built with the water heater and furnace sharing the same exhaust vent. This practice is common with standard efficiency (80%) furnaces. When installed correctly, this venting arrangement works with an 80% gas furnace (or less than 80%) + gas water heater.

Why do I need a power vent water heater?

Venting systems are necessary to prevent flue gases from accumulating in your water heater. These gases largely consist of water vapor and carbon dioxide. The vapor becomes acidic and needs to be released in order to relieve combustion pressure and prevent the water heater from exploding.

How close can a tankless water heater be to an electrical panel?

The only code requirements I’ve found regarding clearances around an electrical panel are allowing at least a 30″ working space (side to side).

Where should a tankless water heater be installed?

The ideal location for your water heater is inside the home. Most installations are small and unobtrusive so they will easily fit in a pantry, under the stairs, or under your sink. If you must place the water heater outside, make sure it’s safe from direct sunlight, rain, and insects.

Can an outdoor tankless water heater be installed in a garage?

As long as enough combustion air is provided, tankless water heaters can be installed in place of your old water heater or anywhere in your home. This includes utility rooms, garages, basements, attics, or mounted on outside walls.

Can tankless water heaters be installed outside in cold climates?

Most indoor and outdoor tankless water heaters have built-in freeze protection against temporary winter temperatures ranging from -5 degrees Fahrenheit to -22 degrees Fahrenheit. This protection cannot withstand long term below freezing temperatures.

Is a GFCI outlet required for tankless water heater?

In a garage, every 120, 15 and 20 Amp receptacle outlet needs to be GFCI protected, so if you have a tankless water heater in the garage, it should be protected as well.

Can a tankless water heater fill a tub?

To further clarify, you can fill an oversized bathtub when you have a tankless water heater, but not when another appliance or fixture is using hot water. And, if the tub’s faucet delivers a heavy flow, you may have to slow down the water a little when filling it.

Is a tankless water heater worth the cost?

While month-to-month water heating costs are cheaper with a tankless unit, it could take years to make up for the high initial cost. Over time, a homeowner will likely come out ahead, but according to Consumer Reports, the energy savings for going tankless add up to $75 per year, on average.

Do tankless water heaters have endless hot water?

Tankless water heaters are able to provide endless hot water because they heat your water on-demand instead of from a tank (which can eventually run out of hot water). After the demand for hot water has been fulfilled, the water heater turns off and the heat exchanger cools back down.

Can a tankless water heater work for the whole-house?

Built with scale-reduction technology, both electric tankless and gas tankless whole-house water heaters perform with high efficiency and are built to serve a wide range of applications. A whole-house tankless water heater is built to provide continuous hot water whenever you need it.

Can you vent water heater through wall?

Direct vent or horizontally vented water heaters are designed for installation where vertical chimneys or flues are not available or would be more expensive to install. The vents go directly through an outside wall, and can also bring in combustion air to the gas burner.

Can you enclose an electric water heater?

In most instances, a home’s water heater is placed in the basement. … You can enclose the water heater by building a wall around it and constructing a utility closet.

Can you vent a standard water heater through the wall?

Direct Vent Water Boiler The air that is used for combustion will come from the water vent, this vent will either through the roof or from the outside of the wall. … This means that only one single pipe is required to go through the roof or wall where the clean air is moved and the off-gasses will be vented.

Can you vent a hot water heater into a chimney?

When venting a gas water heater to a chimney, be aware that holes in the chimney can prevent a good draw on the water heater, causing downdrafts and presenting the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. To avert this problem, you can vent the water heater to the largest hole in the chimney and cap the remaining holes.

How hot does a water heater vent pipe get?

If a water heater is set to store water at 140 F to minimize Legionella bacteria growth, the flue gas temperature will be about 160 F when the heater is new. As scale builds up and the heater efficiency falls off, the flue gas temperatures can easily increase to over 350 degrees F.

What is the difference between direct vent and non direct vent?

Direct vent (two-pipe) vent system – This system uses one pipe to bring in outside air for combustion and another to remove exhaust gases. Non-direct (single-pipe) vent system – This system uses only one pipe to remove exhaust gases.

How close can a tankless water heater be to a gas meter?

Tankless Water Heaters Note: PG&E requires a minimum horizontal clearance of 36” between the gas meter and a tankless water heater when located on the same wall.

How much clearance is needed around an electrical panel?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Electrical Code (NEC), require that electrical panels have a minimum of 3 feet (36 inches) of clearance and a minimum headroom of 6.5 feet or the height of the equipment whichever is greater.

How far does water have to be from an electrical panel?

Keep the ducts for other lines at least 12 inches away from the supply conductors. If ducts cross instead of moving parallel, at least 6 inches of space needs to exist.