40-Gallon Power Vent — Who Needs This Unit
The 40-gallon gas power vent is the right choice for households of one to three people who need gas water heating but don't have access to a traditional chimney flue. Townhomes, condos, and homes with a finished basement utility room are common scenarios where the original atmospheric-vent water heater was replaced — and the new installation can no longer use the same flue configuration.
Power vent is also the correct solution when a home's furnace and water heater previously shared a chimney, and a new high-efficiency furnace was installed that now vents directly through PVC — leaving the water heater without a shared flue partner. This is an increasingly common situation in newer Utah homes and those with recently upgraded HVAC systems.
At 40 gallons, this unit serves smaller households reliably. The Bradford White power vent line includes a 36,000 BTU burner — appropriate for one to three people. If your household is four or more, the 50-gallon power vent at $2,950 will serve you better through busy morning demand periods.
Bradford White Power Vent Construction
Bradford White manufactures this unit in the United States, which distinguishes them from some competitors who have moved manufacturing offshore. The power vent blower motor is integrated into the top of the unit and pushes exhaust through Schedule 40 PVC pipe. The motor is designed for low noise output — an important consideration when the water heater is installed near living spaces, as is often the case in the homes that need power venting.
The Vitraglas enamel lining protects the tank interior from the corrosive effects of Utah's mineral-heavy water. The anode rod is properly sized for the 40-gallon capacity, and our installation always verifies it is correctly seated. Combined with the right expansion tank — which Utah code requires — this setup gives the tank the longest possible service life.
Our all-in price of $2,850 + tax includes the Bradford White unit, licensed installation, expansion tank, drain pan, stainless flex connections, all PVC vent pipe and fittings to the exterior termination point, seismic earthquake straps, and haul-away of your existing unit.
What the Installation Involves
Our technicians handle the full scope: removing the old unit, placing the new Bradford White power vent unit, connecting gas and water lines with upgraded stainless flex connections, installing the expansion tank, placing the drain pan, running the PVC exhaust pipe to the exterior, sealing all penetrations, securing seismic straps, and testing the system for proper operation before leaving. The entire process typically takes 1 to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the PVC routing.