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What does it Cost to Fix a Water Heater Backdraft?

A water heater back draft is a serious issue that needs to be fixed as soon as it’s discovered. Call an experienced plumber immediately if you suspect that you have a back draft occurring in your home.

For those that aren’t familiar, a back draft occurs when exhaust gases are not being pushed out of your home like they should be. When water heaters (especially gas type water heaters) run, the combustion operation produces warm exhaust gases that should rise up through your chimney using negative pressure to be removed from your home. However, if there’s an obstruction or the vent is installed improperly, the gases cannot escape safely. This problem is exacerbated when the home is well insulated and window seals are tight. It may sound strange to say that a tightly closed up home can help create a dangerous situation, but your home actually does need to “breathe” a little bit to help offset any gases that might get trapped in your home. Improper venting can create a really dangerous, and even deadly, scenario where harmful gases like carbon monoxide become trapped in your home, endangering occupants.

A professional will have ways to test for back drafting to determine whether it’s occurring before trying to diagnose the issue, using either a mirror to look for fog, matchstick to test pressure on the flame, or a smoke/powder that’s put into the draft diverter. This can diagnose whether there’s a back draft problem, but saying how much it will cost to fix that problem is almost impossible because there are so many different reasons that it could be occurring. The most common reasons for back drafting include:

  • Improper slope on the vent
  • Hard bends or sharp angles in the vent
  • Sags or dips in the vent
  • A vent that’s too long
  • A broken vent diverter
  • Clogs or obstructions in the vent
  • Over use of exhaust fans elsewhere in the home
  • Corrosion in the vent
  • Improperly sized or placed vent openings
  • A broken fan on a power-vented water heater

Some of these problems can be repaired by an expert, while others will require replacement parts or reengineering of the unit itself. In cases where the unit itself is dated and needs to be replaced, if a power-vented water heater or high-efficiency water heater is an option, these more modern model-types are a better solution because they are far less likely to result in dangerous back drafting. This safety reassurance is something that should be considered when weighing your options moving forward.

Additional resources:
The Cost of Replacing a Water Heater
What to do about a Leaking Water Heater
How Much is the Labor to Replace your Water Heater?
Can My Water Heater Be Fixed?
Can a Handyman Work on Water Heaters?