Oxygen to Sealed Combustion Hot Water Tank

I'm have to replace an old water tank. It is in a small utility closet along side a furnace. Are there measures that need to be taken to ensure adequate combustion?

TIA,
Molo

Absolutely. You mentioned closed combustion, though, and that provides both combustion air and exhaust through the piping. If the intake is inside of the room, then again, absolutely. The installation instructions will list the vent size required - this is normally X-sq inches per 1KBTU, and requires actually two openings, one near the top of the wall/door and a second one near the bottom.

If by sealed combustion you mean an modern FVIR wh, with conventional draft hood on top, then the supply of combustion air is even more important than with an older unit. Although the actual requirements have not changed, you might have got by with less than optimum on an old one, and it will be trouble on a new one.


The installation manual, and the National Fuel Gas Code spell it out. Depending on where the closet is, you will need a certain number of suqare inches of ventilation. You need TWO of these inlets, one in the top 14 inches from the ceiling, and one within 14 inches or so from the floor.