Water Heaters - water heater [pilot outage] when room door is closed

Our water heater and furnace are together in one room just off our kitchen. We are not able to close the door to this room because when we do the water heater pilot goes. We have shut the door with us in the room and can feel and see the draft of wind that is produced. This did not happen when we first moved in. The only two changes that could have occurred was the vent cover blew off the roof, but was replaced, and we had a problem with the floor rotting below the water heater and leaning. We did replace the floor. What could cause the draft? Could the vent cover been put on incorrectly?

Hello rafsgirl and Welcome to our Do It Yourself Web Site and the Water Heaters topic.

Yes. The vent cap may be the incorrect type for the appliance or installed incorrectly. Always a possibility. Another concern is exactly where the draft is coming from. Not well understood or clear based upon your problem description. Would you mind posting a reply to clarify? If so, use the reply button and provide more specific details on that point. Exactly where is the draft coming from???

Closing any door to any room where there is gas appliances requires there be fresh air intake vents. The air vents allow air to enter the room to provide air for combustion, required whenever burning takes places.

It takes massive amounts or air to provide combustion for the flames. If closing a door causes a pilot to go out and the outage is caused by a lack of air, the room does not have fresh air intakes or not sufficient intake vents.

If the is a draft and that draft is coming down the venting pipe to the water heater, the vent cap can be the cause but not likely. However, some where there is an air flow problem, which may take an expert to determine. Try asking to have a appliance service rep from the fuel company (nat or propane) come by to take a look.

If you need further assistance, use the reply button to add any additional information or questions, etc. Using this method also moves the topic back up to the top of the list automatically. Check back on your question several more times. Other members and the plumbing professionals posting replies in this forum topic may offer you additional advice, ideas and or repair methods.

Web Site Host, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator & Multiple Forums Moderator. Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.

when we close the door, the air seems to be coming from under the door. We even put a plastic piece across the door to maybe stop the draft

We need some more information: Are the furnace and water heater of a type known as "direct vent"? If not, there needs to be some fairly large vents INTO that closet from outside. The combustion air to burn the gas has to come from somewhere.

Hello: rafsgirl

Further clarification requested and required.

The draft you're refering to is coming INTO the kitchen from that room when the door is closed??? or going INTO that room from the kitchen? Very important to know specifically.

All depends upon where you are in relationship to the draft. If you are in that room where the appliances are with the door closed, if the draft is coming into that room from under the door, room is being depleted of air. Usually when the appliance(s) are in operation.

If the air (draft) is coming from that room into the kitchen, whole different scenario. Air may be coming down the exhaust fume pipe from one or both appliances. Usually happens when it is windy outside or there is an exhaust fan inside that room or elsewhere in the house drawing outside air inside or blowing it outside, etc.

A whole house fan or powerful window exhaust fan will create such a draft, while fan is in operation, as it trys to draw in air from somewhere to exhaust outside. If you use such a fan to ventilate the house, be sure to open windows for air to come inside to be exhausted outside by the fan.