Originally Posted By: kgrabowski This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I recently inspected a metal chimney vent, single wall or “C” vent. Looking up through the cleanout I saw the first connection, which was the male connection inserted towards me as I was looking up. Am I right to state that this was the incorrect setup? Should the male connection be facing upwards toward the sky, with the female connection facing down (which of course I would not be able to see)? Could exhaust gases not escape up and out through the present setup?
Originally Posted By: lkage This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It sounds like you’re talking about a gas appliance, If so, you want it reversed as you say. But if it were a woodstove appliance type pipe, it would be correct, because we want the creosote drips staying inside the pipe.
– “I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.”
Originally Posted By: kgrabowski This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Yes, fellows, the vent runs through the living space and into the attic and it is a gas furnace and water heater. The attic has wood chip insulation. Am I wrong to say that the implications are exhaust gases possibly escaping into the attic? Any other implications?
Originally Posted By: lkage This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
kgrabowski wrote:
Yes, fellows, the vent runs through the living space and into the attic and it is a gas furnace and water heater. The attic has wood chip insulation. Am I wrong to say that the implications are exhaust gases possibly escaping into the attic? Any other implications?
Thankyou,
KG
If it is truly single wall it could be a fire hazard, too, especially running through the ceiling and wood chip insulation. (I had to google that to learn about it some. I've never seen it before.  ...hmmm wood chips.)
A class B chimney is what is normally used with it's 1" to combustibles.
-- "I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him."
Galileo Galilei
Originally Posted By: kgrabowski This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
yes, up here in Canada we have wood chips for insulation. Found in homes pre 1970’s. Its only as deep as the 2x4 ceiling joists. Not much R value to that, so we get a lot of ice damming up here in are older homes…
Originally Posted By: pbolliger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Keep this in mind also, that any natural / propane gas burning appliance “should” not be (connected) mixed with any wood burning appliance to chimneys. I hope this chimney is lined with a flue liner.
Since natural/ propane burns at a lower temp then wood. Moisture (condensate) from the combustion products accumulate inside the unlined (perhaps oversize too) chimney and behaves as an acid to the mortar holding the bricks.. Can you say chimney failure. 
In general a "smoke pipe" (some call it a flue pipe or stove pipe) should slope upward 1/4" per foot up to chimney.
As for the gap that various smoke pipes should have , a class "b" vent (double wall) is 1-2 " inches where as a single wall is 6" inches of clearance to combustible material.
I trained at the local gas company regarding natural gas burning appliances and found that many installation can be dangerous with respect to CO generation.
The room size (general idea) and type of appliance (category) should always be checked as should the "smokepipe / flue" . We can't see chimney liners at times but should you suspect that a "change" in heating equipment was done it would be worth while to look at more closely..
Originally Posted By: kgrabowski This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
This is not a wood burning appliance nor is the vent hooked up to a wood burning appliance…Strictly gas furnace and water heater as stated in prior posts.
When I said we were up here in Canada doesnt mean we live in log houses..... 
Originally Posted By: pbolliger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Sorry Kerri,
Didn't mean to suggest you had a wood burning stove there. Nor am I suggesting that you live in log cabins
I had a post on a different web site (This old house) where someone had that situation. Sometimes I get carried away with posts. 