Power-Vented Water Heaters
Standard water heaters are popular in North America, but are not as efficient or as safe as they could be. T A power-vented water heater consists of a large storage tank and a burner, just like a conventional gas-powered storage water heater. However, power vented water heaters are safer because they also include a fan that draws outside air into the combustion chamber and forces combustion gases out through a vent. This is important for two reasons:
- Bringing outside air in helps prevent leakage through cracks in the building envelope that reduces the overall energy-efficiency of a home.
- Venting expels combustion gases and the pollutants they contain. This ensures that pollutants produced by the combustion of natural gas or propane are vented to the outside and can't enter the room air, causing health problems.
- Power-vented water heaters are not only safer, they're more efficient and usually at least ten percent more efficient than standard gas-fired storage water heaters.
