What is a Power Direct-Vent Water Heater?

Maytag® Series 6 power direct-vent gas water heaters are designed to vent the by-products of combustion from the water heater to the outside air horizontally, through an outside wall. This makes them different from “standard” gas water heaters, which are designed to vent vertically, straight up through the roof of the home.

A power direct-vent water heater is an option to consider for homes where installation of a new vertical chimney or replacement of an existing chimney would be too costly or impractical. An example of a “power direct-vent situation” would be the opportunity to replacing an electric water heater (which requires no venting) with a gas unit.

Power direct-vent design also provides outstanding flexibility for locating the water heater in the home, since vent runs up to 45 feet to the outside wall are possible, depending on the size of vent pipe used. Power direct-vent water heaters are equipped with a quiet modular blower on top of the tank, which makes these long vent runs possible. Power direct-vent water heaters do require electrical power to operate this blower.

In addition, power direct-vent water heaters draw all “makeup air” needed for proper combustion from outside the home. This is accomplished by a “two-pipe” system, with one pipe utilized for venting of the water heater, and a second “intake pipe” for drawing in combustion air.

This differs from “standard” gas water heaters, which draw makeup air from inside the home. Power direct-vent design is beneficial in homes where indoor ventilation is inadequate for proper combustion.

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