An A.O. Smith Vertex gas water heater replacement in Bethesda failed its permit inspection. The cause was the home's existing vent and condensate setup, not the new heater. Here's what the inspector flagged and how our technician fixed it.
The problem
We replaced an A.O. Smith Vertex high-efficiency gas tank water heater in a Bethesda home and pulled a permit for the work. The new heater connected to the home's existing vent and condensate piping. At the permit inspection, the installation wasn't approved because of how that existing piping had been done.
What our technician found
The inspection notes pointed to four items, all in the existing setup: the vent piping was 2-inch where 3-inch was required; the vent was foam-core (cellular) PVC rather than solid Schedule 40 PVC; there was no condensate neutralizer; and the condensate drain line wasn't run in the correct piping.
What we did
- Replaced the 2-inch vent piping with 3-inch pipe.
- Used solid-core Schedule 40 PVC for the vent instead of foam-core pipe.
- Installed a condensate neutralizer.
- Re-ran the condensate drain line in the correct piping.
- Scheduled the re-inspection.
Parts used
- 3-inch Schedule 40 PVC vent pipe and fittings
- Condensate neutralizer
- Condensate drain piping
The result
The corrections took a full day on site. With the venting and condensate piping brought up to code, the job went back to the inspector for re-inspection.
Tips for Bethesda homeowners
- Swapping a high-efficiency heater for a new one doesn't mean the old venting is OK. If it was never to code, the permit inspection will catch it.
- High-efficiency (condensing) heaters make acidic condensate. A neutralizer helps protect drains and pipes.
- Vent size depends on the heater model and the length of the run. Undersized venting is a common inspection failure.
- Ask for a permit on water heater replacements. It's your proof the job was checked.