State Power Vent water heaters combine an atmospheric burner with a fan-assisted exhaust. The fan pulls combustion gases through PVC sidewall venting, eliminating the need for a chimney.
Power Vent lineup
When Power Vent is right
- You don\'t have a chimney (common in modern construction)
- You\'re relocating the water heater away from the existing flue route (basement closet, garage)
- The existing chimney is dedicated to another appliance (boiler) and can\'t be shared
- Sealed-envelope new construction where atmospheric combustion isn\'t feasible
Install requirements
- 120V dedicated outlet within 6 ft of unit
- PVC sidewall venting (2" or 3", model-specific)
- Vent length per installation manual (typically 65-100 ft equivalent)
- Termination clearances from windows, doors, grade (per code)
Vs atmospheric ProLine
| Atmospheric ProLine | Power Vent ProLine | |
|---|---|---|
| Venting | B-vent chimney required | PVC sidewall |
| UEF | 0.60-0.62 | 0.67 |
| 120V outlet | Not needed | Required |
| Power outage | Works (mechanical) | Dead (fan needs power) |
| Typical price (50-gal) | $749-949 | $1,249-1,549 |
Power Vent premium is real ($500+ over atmospheric). Worth it when the chimney isn\'t available; not worth it when the chimney is.
Warranty
6 years tank / 6 years parts / 1 year labor.
Bottom line
Power Vent is the sidewall-venting answer for chimneyless homes. Higher efficiency than atmospheric (0.67 UEF) but requires 120V power.