Water heater with air intake and exhaust system

Abstract

A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; a burner associated with the combustion chamber; a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner; an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located adjacent a lower portion of the water heater.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber;    a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner;    an intake air conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and    a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located below the combustion air intake opening.    
   
   
       23 . The water heater of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the dilution air conduit substantially concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the intake air conduit.  
   
   
       24 . The water heater of  claim 22 , wherein the intake conduit comprises a substantially vertically oriented portion and a substantially horizontally oriented portion extending from the vertically oriented portion to an opening in the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       25 . The water heater of  claim 22 , wherein the combustion air intake opening is covered with a perforated cap.  
   
   
       26 . The water heater of  claim 22 , wherein the intake and dilution air conduits are substantially PVC, ABS and/or CPVC.  
   
   
       27 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber;    a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner;    an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater, the intake conduit comprising a substantially vertically oriented portion extending along at least a portion of the length of the water heater, and a substantially horizontally oriented portion extending from the vertically oriented portion to an opening in the combustion chamber; and    a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located below the combustion air intake opening, the dilution air conduit comprising a connector portion extending from the blower assembly.    
   
   
       28 . The water heater of  claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of the dilution air conduit substantially concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the intake air conduit.  
   
   
       29 . The water heater of  claim 27 , wherein the combustion air intake opening is covered with a perforated cap.  
   
   
       30 . The water heater of  claim 27 , wherein the intake and dilution air conduits are substantially PVC, ABS and/or CPVC.  
   
   
       31 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber;    a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner;    a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening; and    an intake air conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located above the dilution air intake opening.    
   
   
       32 . The water heater of  claim 31 , wherein the intake conduit comprises a substantially vertically oriented portion extending along at least a portion of the length of the water heater, and a substantially horizontally oriented portion extending from the vertically oriented portion to an opening in the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       33 . The water heater of  claim 31 , wherein the dilution air conduit comprises a substantially vertically oriented portion and a connector portion extending between the blower assembly and the substantially vertically oriented portion.  
   
   
       34 . The water heater of  claim 31 , wherein the combustion air intake opening is covered with a perforated cap.  
   
   
       35 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber;    a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner;    an intake air conduit sealingly connected to supply combustion air to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and    a dilution air conduit directly and sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located below the combustion air opening.