A.O. Smith is a familiar name to anyone in the plumbing and hydronic heating industry. Founded in 1874, it has grown to become the largest manufacturer of water heaters in North America. The company has made itself an industry leader through innovation, discipline and integrity.
Ryan Atkins is Product Manager – Commercial Gas for A. O. Smith. Atkins has been with the company for more than eight years, prior to which he worked as a full-time plumber performing service and installation for Little Piping and Mechanical, a construction company based out of Woodlawn, TN.
Atkins spoke with CONTRACTOR about some common venting issues in gas-fired water heater installations.
CONTRACTOR: What venting options best help contractors reduce roof and wall penetrations without sacrificing performance?
Ryan Atkins: When trying to reduce wall penetrations, a concentric vent is a great option. Additionally, when installing multiple water heaters, it can be beneficial to utilize common venting.
A. O. Smith designs many of our products, like our Cyclone® commercial water heaters, so that customers can common vent multiple units together using our common vent kits. While this does not reduce penetrations, customers can use low-profile termination kits for a more aesthetically pleasing option.
CONTRACTOR: Where do you see the most code conflicts or regional venting challenges across the US?
Atkins: Right now, it is the growth of the UL 1738 venting standard, as adoption of this standard is increasing across local and state jurisdictions. This standard requires much more stringent testing of plastic venting materials. While the northeast is where much of this initiated, it is no longer limited to specific regions of the country.
CONTRACTOR: What are the biggest venting mistakes in retrofit jobs on older buildings?
Atkins: Failing to follow the manufacturer's venting instructions and local code can cause issues in retrofitting. For example, mixing materials such as connecting PVC directly to an existing B-vent.
CONTRACTOR: How should contractors evaluate whether existing venting can be reused, relined or must be replaced?
Atkins: It is important that contractors examine the vent for any damage or deterioration. On PVC, they should look for yellowing, softness, and brittleness of the material. For B-Vent, they should look for rust, collapse, and missing fasteners. If any of these problems are found, the venting should be replaced.
CONTRACTOR: What product or design changes are you making to simplify venting for tight mechanical rooms and older structures?
Atkins: A. O. Smith continuously looks to add venting options to satisfy customer needs by improving ease of installation. Recently, we have focused on testing and approving flexible plastic venting for retrofit applications. With our newest Cyclone water heater, we can accommodate much longer vent runs. For example, a common 3” size is now capable of up to 150 max vent length.
