Self-installing a powervented water heater? Anyone done it, or have advice?

[Paschale]

Hi all,

I'm about to have a new furnace and AC installed, and was thinking at the same time of having a powervented water heater installed at the same time.  The thinking is this:  since my furnace is going to be vented out the side, if I keep my current water heater, they'd have to run a chimney liner to accomodate the change in draft.  My water heater's around ten years old, so she'll probably need to be replaced in the next couple of years anyway.  My brother suggested to me that I do a powervented water heater so that my chimney is free.  I could then install a woodstove or a wood furnace at a later date to help with heating.  I started thinking about replacing that water heater myself, but I have no experience with a power vented water heater, and I'm wondering if that's something best left to the professionals.  Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[sprucebunny]

I installed the power vent for my oil furnace and then did it again when I moved it. It was pretty easy if you are confident about reading wiring diagrams.

Don't know if the powervent for a waterheater is the same ???

[Furby]

Yup, when ya want me to stop by? ;D
It's easy to do if you can follow directions.

One draw back is if the power goes out.
If you have city water, you can still have hot water with the old style heaters.
If you have a well, you would need a generator to get the water anyways so you can just plug the heater in then.

Another draw back is the noise, but you do get used to it.

Is your furnace going to be a one pipe or two pipe system?
If it's a one pipe, you can vent the heater right near the furnace vent as they are both vents.
With a two pipe furnace, you will need to vent the heater away fron the furnace intake.

[breederman]

No problem,I installed mine eighteen years ago when I knew even less than I do now. The only problem I had was that the vent had to be a certan distance from the ground and with the log walls I couldn't get it. so we put it on the end wall and kept an eye on it, the snow has never got over it and never caused a problem.