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Old 11-08-2008, 06:58 PM   #1
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Chimney/Intake Restriction

I have gas furnace with 2" PVC intake and exhaust. It runs out a wall on an alley.

About once every 2 year like clockwork some asshole either smashes them with their car or a pedestrian decides to destroy them for ****s and giggles.

I always replace them so they turn upward and then do a 180 and terminate pointing downward.

This time I slapped a quick fix on them. I bought 2" caps that fit inside the pipe and have square perforations in the cap. I'm guessing this diminshes the surface area of the opening by about half.

Will this restriction cause my furnace to not operate properly?

I would prefer to leave them this way since they are only sticking a half inch of the building and can't be hit by a car (unless they try hard enough, which they probably will).

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Old 11-08-2008, 11:29 PM   #2
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send me the address of the building so I can go and take a gander.
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Old 11-09-2008, 01:20 PM   #3
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If it aint broke, don't fix it. If there is a safety switch in the furnace that will de-energize the circuit if the flow is restricted. You should be ok. If it is too restrictive, the furnace will malfunction. There is a trouble code somewhere on the furnace. If something goes amiss, you can diagnose by checking the trouble code on the control board. You should be ok
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Old 11-11-2008, 07:03 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orson View Post
I have gas furnace with 2" PVC intake and exhaust. It runs out a wall on an alley.

About once every 2 year like clockwork some asshole either smashes them with their car or a pedestrian decides to destroy them for ****s and giggles.

I always replace them so they turn upward and then do a 180 and terminate pointing downward.

This time I slapped a quick fix on them. I bought 2" caps that fit inside the pipe and have square perforations in the cap. I'm guessing this diminshes the surface area of the opening by about half.

Will this restriction cause my furnace to not operate properly?

I would prefer to leave them this way since they are only sticking a half inch of the building and can't be hit by a car (unless they try hard enough, which they probably will).

That doesn't sound like a good solution to me, you don't want to find this out on a o degree day when the unit is running 24 hours straight. Unit manufacturers are very specific when it comes to vent terminations, look in the owner's manual and see what it says or put in a call to their service help line.
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Old 11-11-2008, 07:03 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by flashheatingand View Post
If it aint broke, don't fix it. If there is a safety switch in the furnace that will de-energize the circuit if the flow is restricted. You should be ok. If it is too restrictive, the furnace will malfunction. There is a trouble code somewhere on the furnace. If something goes amiss, you can diagnose by checking the trouble code on the control board. You should be ok

How long have you been in the trade if you don't mind me asking?
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Old 11-11-2008, 11:10 PM   #6
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Thats kind of abuzz kill...but, kinda I don't mind... not at all.

I started in '98 doing service (light commercial, residential), I have been doing service and retro jobs since 2004. Some things may seem strange, but that is alright. But, I do things professionally. I have my work inspected by the local authorities and never had any problems passsing. I do ok. Obviously, there is more for me to learn.. Always..

As for this situation, there is a switch that will trip if there is a restriction. I don't know why the vent is where it is, nor do you. For whatever reason, it's there. If his way is faulty, it will probably fail within 48 hours (trip the pressure switch). I have only had a make-up air problem twice. Odds are, whatever he did is ok, this is pure speculation (which is a given on the internet) if not, then deal with it. We could help out at that time. Or, he could hire someone local.

Thats just me.
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Old 11-12-2008, 10:07 AM   #7
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Thats a nuisance no heat call for sure.I n colder weather the vent moisture will collect on the screen then freeze and gradually plug up both intake and exhaust, not to mention the added stress you have now placed on your ventor motor.look in the manual and see ,but most manufactures frown on these. good luck
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Old 11-12-2008, 11:32 AM   #8
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Call an HVAC Contractor. They may be able to offer alternatives such as a concentric vent or routing the vent and intake to a different location.
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