Weird stuff, today.

1

Saw some very weird stuff during today’s two inspections.

  1. Dryer vent hose being vented into the HVAC ductwork. Seriously! Gas fired dryer! The listing agent kept asking me why that was bad.

  2. 1983 rowhouse condo. The utility closet contained an electric clothes dryer, a conventionally drafted gas water heater and a newer cat 1 gas fired furnace. It had a louvered door. But, it also had a bathroom type ceiling exhaust fan and the seller (also a member of the condo board) asked what style the new buyer’s wanted for the new utility closet door. Seems that the board has decided that installing solid fire doors on the utility closets would increase their safety and stop the spread of fire!

I asked about the combustion make-up air problem (the water heater already displayed signs of backdrafting). The seller stated that this was a “new code requirement” (no such requirement in that village) and that the “association approved contractor” was putting in the new doors (probably a condo board member who is getting paid by the association).

This, in a condo with no GFCI or AFCI and with wooden doors to the attached garages! Also no spring hinges on the garage doors.

Been a busy and weird day.

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2

Man. I can imagine the Realtors response. Well it hasn’t burned down yet.

3

Listing agent said that the house was forclosed, but I think that the previous owners just exfixiated themselves.

4

Sounds like Village of the Dammed.

Did you pull your hair out or laugh at these guys?
(at least the dryer vent looks corrugated):slight_smile:

5

Really don’t know what to say!

6

The end section, where the picture shows it duct taped to the HVAC duct was, but the section near the dryer was foil.

Go figure.

7

what do you think will actually happen without the make up air and especially with the exhaust fan pulling even more air out? will the furnace not run or maybe wear it self out prematurely?

8

Furnace will short cycle and the water heater will backdraft (as it was, already, with a louvered door.
Rule of thumb, from the local gas utility company (whic, previously, provided 12 hours of state approved CE to HI’s, every two years).

Calculate the cubic footage of the room enclosing the furnace, water heater, etc.

Multiply by 20.

That number must be greater than the TOTAL BTU input of ALL gas fired appliances in the room.

If not, a source of combustion make-up air must be added.

Louvered wooden doors (completely louvered) or two (high and low) retunr style wall vents. If wooden vents, 25% of the cubic footage of the ajoining room may be added to the calculation. If metal vents, 75% of the ajoining room area may be considered.

With many of the newer furnaces having induced draft fans (water heaters as well), there is an ancreasing problem with negative air pressure in houses and in small (especially in condos!) utility rooms.

This also adds to the insulation / air leakage problem.

Someone please measure the total CFM air movement for a gas fired clothes dryer. In a small house, that can create a 10 to 14 P negative pressure in the house.

Hint and Tip: Look at the hinges (open the door first) of an exterior or attached garage door. If you see dust stain marks pointing inward, the house is under negative pressure. With a conventionally vented water heater, this can lead to backdrafting.

Hope this helps;

9

So that doesn’t qualify as an energy upgrade??

10

Not a slam, Linus, just remember, this is a very serious health and safety defect. People can die! And if they do, guess who they are going to sue :wink:

Home inspectors who do a good job save lives!

Let’s keep that in mind, people, especially in a public forum.

Hope this helps;