I did an inspection of my daughters new home that she is buying. The hvac installer had the air supply pipe and gas exhaust pipe running side by side under the breezeway ceiling from the high efficiency furnace (the furnace and water heater is in the mechanical room under the breezeway).
I have concern this is not right. The gases could by gravity go back into the heating chamber thru the air pipe and cause the furnace gas from burners to burn cleanly or should i say not get the proper air mix. This could cause the unit to operate inefficiently. Also the gases that is being pumped out, the hot moisture could linger under the vinyl ceiling siding and cause damage overtime overtime. What do you think, is it ok or not. Not sure how to add a picture
Just drag and drop the pic from your folder to the text box.
Based on what your trying to describe, the only issue you have with the two pipes too close together is in the winter when the exhaust creates a snowball and blocks the combustion air pipe, which will cause the furnace to shut down on a pressure switch.
Seeing they make concentric flue termination kits, the two pipe clearance is not an issue.
As to moisture getting on the breezeway, we need to see a pic of that.
Thanks David, I did the drag and drop and could not open the picture. The pipes are side by side and less then a foot from an enclosed ceiling located under the breezeway. I called the manufacturer and they gave me the supply of the Rheem furnace and they gave me a list of three licensed hvac contractors to call. I spoke with the owner who is a licensed contractor and sent him the picture. The pipes come out of the rear wall under the breezeway and has a 90 degree bent downward.
Chris the hvac contractor called back and stated it should not have been installed under the breezeway. The hot gas blowing hot moisture and gas would be trapped by the ceiling and linger before dissipating and some of the gas would reenter thru the air vent pipe. The air coming in would have some some of the gas from the other pipe, which would not give the proper air mixture needed for good combustion. So that is the way I wrote it up.
Chris also stated that if the pipe or pipes could not go thru the roof or all the way out to the side of the home a louver door could be used to replace the air vent pipe.
Aside from HVAC Mfg Standards, there are Building Codes about this.
Being a breezeway, is there not a building opening there? Discharge distances from windows and doors?
You need to figure out the picture thing if your going to hang around here. It is near impossible not to assume stuff your talking about without a picture (it’s difficult even with one)!
the hvac contractor called back and stated it should not have been installed under the breezeway. The hot gas blowing hot moisture and gas would be trapped by the ceiling and linger before dissipating and some of the gas would reenter thru the air vent pipe. The air coming in would have some some of the gas from the other pipe, which would not give the proper air mixture needed for good combustion.
I’m not an HVAC technician but I disagree with the contractor you spoke with. If there is an issue as far as trapping exhaust a few extensions to those pipes would prevent that.
Did he see this photo or just go by what you explained to him?
Bert, he could inspect your house to see if it’s kosher for good times, just saying On a serious note, he may have gotten hacked and doesn’t know it. Take a screenshot, funny stuff!
On a serious note, he may have gotten hacked and doesn’t know it. Take a screenshot, funny stuff!