Quieting a noisy direct vent water heater quickly and cheaply.

Justa Youtuber
Justa Youtuber
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Published 2020-12-04
This video shows how to reduce or silence the outside noise made by direct vent water heaters, sometimes called power vented water heaters. It shows you how to make a sound suppressor/resonator made of materials costing less than $10 and how to easily install it. This solution works and it does not involve much effort. Simple and effective noise reduction for exhaust vents from your power vented water heater.

This solution is specifically intended for noisy exhaust vents with a 3" diameter over a short run. This video showcased a Bradford White direct vent water heater with about a 4' vertical rise and 3' horizontal run, with one 90 degree elbow. Repairs or modification to systems are at your own risk. Consult a professional if you are unsure of the work.

*UPDATE*
   • Part 2:  RESULTS of quieting a water ...   Hear the results!
Using an app called Sound Meter on my android phone (all I had) I measured the dB drop. I measured inside and outside for 30 seconds with the blower on from about 3 feet away from the vent and blower, and it gave the average dB.
Outside it dropped from 70.5dB to 47.9dB wow!!
Inside it dropped from 62.5dB to 58.4dB
All Comments (20)
  • @johnkicak2801
    i would love a follow up video to this where he pulls it out and takes a look at what it looks like today. there is a lot of moisture that comes through that vent. my guess is that the insulation collets a lot of it and creates a perfect spot for mold.
  • @robertklacza1160
    Thanks for the great idea ! Now if there were only some video and audio recording of the noise AFTER the modifications. Since you can easily remove the muffler portion, get a sound level meter, "C" weighting, fast response, and measure both inside and outside the home, and post the data here !! Thanks again for the great idea !!!!
  • @edwardlee7491
    Why didn’t you just replace the 3 inch and install 2 inch from the heater to the outside?
  • @scottdittenhaffer2303
    I hear noisy ones all over my neighborhood .. How about someone make a muffler to add onto the end.
  • @4Shreks
    Question, how would you install an air trap in one of these hot water heaters so that I don't get a draft back into the house? The exhaust on my tank is 2 inches, would you recommend that I use a 1 inch pipe? Maybe I am overly thinking this, but if there is any condensation in the exhaust couldn't it potentially create mold on the insulation? Thanks
  • @spanieaj
    My problem involves the resonant noise is heard INSIDE the house. My exhaust pipe is 2" and the horizontal run is about 12 feet to the vertical that connects to the W.H. fan.
  • @Saywhatohno
    Amazing video!! My sound issue is an actually the vibration of PVC pipe with the joists. Anyway to reduce the vibrations from the pvc into the joists?
  • @boriqua2200
    Why wouldn't you just swap the 3 inch pipe for a 2 inch pipe ?
  • @vladekvladinov5753
    A quick question : how do you adjust the temperature on this same water heater ?
  • @ICoulntThinkofAUserNam547
    Iiiim not so sure that's a good idea.... my boiler vents that way and I could see that A. getting moldy inside a cold pipe and B. blocking airflow, putting both strain on the fan and maybe pushing CO back into the basement
  • @resampling9129
    just a heads up, if you're in Canada you MUST use ULC636 approved Gas Vent Pipe to do this. ABS DWV and Schedule 40 PVC are not legal for use in flue gas venting applications. For those in the US, the use of UL1738 approved Gas Vent Pipe is highly encouraged, and is required by law in some states already. As a general rule of thumb, ABS DWV and Schedule 40 PVC pipe is not rated for continuous use under the temperature of the flue gasses that are passing through them. Its also worth noting that the fittings some of these pipe systems use are only glued in place, not chemically welded with a solvent. The glue used for connecting ABS fittings to ABS DWV pipe in particular has been known to crack over time when used for flue gas vent applications. This is the exact reason more than a decade ago it was made mandatory in Canada to use ULC636 gas vent pipe.