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Venting a gas water heater out of the roof is preferable in most cases. Heated exhaust gases naturally rise, so a vertical vent pipe is efficient. If you’re trying to vent through a pipe exiting a wall, the angle of the pipe may be more horizontal than vertical, making the venting system less effective. If you go through a wall, you may need to add a fan to ensure a successful expulsion of the gases outdoors.

Unless they are connected to the same system, boilers and water heaters will both need their own expansion tanks. The only case they wouldn’t have separate expansion tanks is if the boiler is pulling double duty and managing a heating system while also supplying hot water for a home. In which case, you may not need a hot water heater.

If your gas water heater is over 20 years old, it should be replaced. Gas water heaters can last up to 12 years and while they can exceed this expectancy if well-maintained, a heater that's 20 years old would require replacement. The heater is unlikely to run as efficiently as a new model and could be more expensive to do so.

A larger heater requires a larger breaker—unless there’s one already installed. The longer answer to this question is more nuanced. Do you place demands on the heater at the same time as running other heavy-duty appliances like ovens and washing machines? Do you live in an older home that may not have considered the higher electrical demands we have now? Breakers need to be sized at 125% of the load. To find that load, you should call a local electrical pro.