If you find the title of this post confusing—that is a good thing. There really should not be any connection between a conventional gas water heater and an air filter.
As one can see in the diagram below, gas water heaters, unless they are a sealed combustion type heaters, get their combustion air from holes around the bottom of the heater.
This next picture shows the carpet in the room fitted nicely around the base of the heater—completely blocking the air intakes.
This could be considered some sort of air filtering system (bad idea), but it is most likely going to end up starving the heater of adequate combustion air. This could lead to a flame producing large amounts of carbon monoxide.
Obviously, for the heater to function properly and receive proper combustion air, the air intakes must be kept clear. All this carpeting will need to be removed from around the heater.
While it may look better this way—it is very dangerous and once again shows how the work of one trade can negatively impact the work of another trade.
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what is the danger in removing/disabling ther air filters on gas water haeters.
Thanks, charles spivey
Charles, well unless you are talking about Sealed combustion type water heaters—FVIR (flame vapor ignition resistant)—gas water heaters do not have filters. No components of any FVIR type heater should be messed with.
It is easy to keep a Whirlpool hot water heater operating. I have one in a rental property for many years. I took a 3/4″ PVC pipe about 18″ long and put a 90 elbow on one end the other end of the PVC pipe I tape to the end of a vacuum hose of a small 5 gallon shop vac. The 90 degree elbow allows me to vacuum the filter area under the water heater, by actually contacting against the bottom the filter pulling any dirt out or the filter. It seems that this cleans the filter to its new condition. I had one tenant that had a cat and if it was not cleaned once a year the pilot would go out and would not relight tried cleaning with brush but that only cleaned the surface of the filter so it would only last a few months but once I designed the PVC pipe cleaning system the water heater would work like new. Just vacuum one a year.
Please update with current info! The Feds outlawed water heaters w/o sealed combustion chambers in 2012. We are forced to buy these PIA types which cost 2-3 times more$$$ and constantly have intake air problems (and no hot water)
Dean, neither current UPC or IRC requires FVIR (PIA??) type water heaters except when they are not elevated in garages, as far as I am aware. Otherwise non-FVIR type heaters are still readily available as near as I can tell. If you have supporting evidence that this is not the case I would love for you to share it here. While FVIR type do not “have” to be elevated, I still think it is a good practice because if you have an ignition event you will have to replace the entire water heater. I have seen nothing to indicate that these units are having air intake issues except when installed improperly in very dusty environments.
Here in Kansas the only water heater you can buy now is the sealed combustion chamber type. I have been in a constant struggle to keep my Lowes Whirlpool model N40T61-343 pilot light on for the last several months. Installed less than 3 years ago. The status light doesn’t flash any trouble code, the pilot just goes out/the thing just shuts off. Whirlpool customer service is horrible, just want me to send back parts(thermocouple, thermostat, high temp sensor, etc random) but I get no code from status light.
I really appreciate your reply and now that I know the old style with the holes all around the burner are still available some places, I will check surrounding states. If I have to drive a few hundred miles to get one I will.
PS: I was a little cranky when I made my first post, PIA=Pain In the arse.
If you want to see how widespread this issue is, Google “Lowes whirlpool gas water heater problems”.
Thanks again
Dean, I feel your pain with all the new technology. Also, it is my understanding that Kansas is one of those States that leaves adoption of codes to the local jurisdictions which creates even more of a mess for consumers. If you can find out which code your jurisdiction is following I might have something else to add but if they are telling you that it has to be FVIR type, I guess that would be end of story. They can amend the codes too. I know that neither the current UPC or IPC require FVIR unless the unit is less than 18″ off the floor. Sounds like you have a lemon heater to boot.