| It's certainly true that there is more stuff to go wrong, and it’s harder for anyone other than an HVAC tech trouble-shoot problems. I just had a American Standard Freedom 90 furnace go down at one of my rentals and the tech went right - as in, within 90 seconds - to the problem (binding inducer fan), it might have taken me a while to track that one down.
That said I encounter two situations were power vented water heaters make sense.
1) It’s desirable to sidewall vent the appliance.
2) It’s desirable to use a CAT IV appliance because it allows installation in closed utility room without combustion air concerns.
Also, in some of the municipalities where I do home inspections here in the Chicago area the building departments are encouraging the installation of direct vent appliances (especially furnaces) in replacements where the existing appliance is drawing combustion air from an unconfined space within the structure because they feels it's safer - they don’t require it, but they will tell contractors and homeowners they prefer it.  |