09/03/2026
This is exactly why you hire a professional when it comes to plumbing and water heater installations.
We were recently called out to look at a water heater that wasn’t venting properly. We found that an atmospheric vent water heater had been installed and vented with PVC pipe. The problem is that atmospheric vent water heaters must be vented with metal vent pipe through a chimney or roof. PVC is not approved for this type of installation.
The excessive heat caused the PVC venting to melt and deteriorate. The homeowner was very fortunate that this didn’t result in a fire or carbon monoxide issue.
We removed the incorrectly installed water heater and all of the damaged venting and replaced it with a new tankless water heater that is designed to be vented with PVC.
This customer got lucky. Improper water heater installations can have serious consequences. If you’re unsure whether your water heater was installed correctly, it’s worth having it checked before it becomes a safety issue.