What problems result from snow blocking vent or vents? If you have a commercial water heater for your business, especially a high efficiency or sealed combustion water heater, it can cause you big problems to have vents blocked from snow or any other debris.
If the block occurs on the air intake side your water heater will likely just stop working because it doesn’t have enough air. However, this blockage can also lead to serious damage to your heater, resulting in damage and replacement costs!
If the blockage occurs in the exhaust vent, heat could build up and once again damage your equipment. Or, even worse, you could have serious carbon monoxide backup which could result in poisoning.
So clear those vents! Install the intake and exhaust on the sunniest side of the building, make sure your snow doesn’t get too high, and install a snow fence if necessary. Also, cover intakes and vents with screens to prevent any unwanted visitors.