Vent slope

[NJinspector]

The exhaust vent for this water heater is pitched with a downward slope. I cant find anything in the NJ mechanical code books that allows or disallows it. I checked on the Bradford White website and found no answers.

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[Bill Kibbel]

Power vented water heaters are not high efficiency systems that generate much condensate. They maintain cool exhaust temps by drawing in a large amount of air to dilute the exhaust. The vent doesn't slope back to the unit because they don't have a condensate collection and discharge system (unless there's an unusual situation).

Horizontal vent pipes should be installed to slope away from the blower, to drain any possible condensate to the exterior.

[NJinspector]

Thanks Bill. They do have a condensate line that is in pic# 1, no pump, but the line simply runs into the washer drain pipe.