Build up on my water heater vent
#1

There's some weird build up on the outside of the vent coming out of the top of my water heater. I had never actually looked at it closely, so I couldn't tell you whether it's new or not. We do have very hard water.



#3
Member
A gas water heater vents at the lowest exhaust temperature short of a sealed combustion appliance. That low temperature makes it vulnerable to the gas condensing before it exits the chimney. The resulting liquid is also acidic so hastens the deterioration of the flue.
It looks like a 6" pipe exiting the water heater. Now, I'm far from an expert on this, but a smaller vent pipe will move the exhaust faster and warm up quicker to reduce the condensation potential.
What does that vent connect to, another exhaust vent, a chimney, masonry or metal?
Pros are welcome to correct me where necessary.
Bud
It looks like a 6" pipe exiting the water heater. Now, I'm far from an expert on this, but a smaller vent pipe will move the exhaust faster and warm up quicker to reduce the condensation potential.
What does that vent connect to, another exhaust vent, a chimney, masonry or metal?
Pros are welcome to correct me where necessary.
Bud