Hey there everyone, need some help. My 50 gallon gas water heater is going bad
So I'm looking to replace it with a. O. Smith 50 gallon promax power vent. Now my question is can it be replaced without converting anything? I have a G E 50 gallon water heater without a power vent. My water heater vent ties into my boiler vent. I don't have central air. I have radiators. Can anyone tell me if I can install this water heater he same way as my old one?

Hi again Davidadrian140

Can't do it without changing things a bit! Here, at a minimum, you'll have to change the flu piping from direct vent to the chimney (boiler vent) to vent piping that goes to the exterior of the building... usually piped in schedule 40 PVC pipe. This vent pipe needs to be pretty high off the ground (usually 7 feet) and can't be within 4-10 feet of any windows, vents, gas meters, etc...

When you make this change it could cause issues with the boiler venting, but not usually as much an issue as if you remove the boiler from the chimney and leave the water heater, so don't worry too much about that.

You'll also need to add an electrical outlet @ 120V... usually a dedicated circuit here.

Otherwise, most of the rest stays the same.

Why do you want to do this? Power vent systems are noisy and usually only used when there is no chimney or boiler venting present... ;)

Let me know more, OK?

Mark

A power vent A.O. Smith promax gas water heater must be vented to the outside, read instructions for locations. There are distance restrictions, 3' from a gas meter, 4' from a window plus other requirements in the instructions.

I agree with both above post. Main changes will be completely separate venting and electrical source. Water and gas hookups will be roughly the same. Also, some powervent water heaters require a condensate drain hose off the vent (not usually an issue).

I was only thinking of going with a power vent because I was getting it at a really good price BUT I think I'll go with a conventional one instead. Massplumber, puffmugs, mygirlsdad, thanks for the input. You have been of great help to me. Thank You.

I don't know what a good price was that you were getting, but in the Ohio area a pro max power vent is close to $900 and a pro max standard flue vent is about $550, if that helps you.