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H.E. Furnace Induction Exhaust / Intake
-- and (Grill) "Fresh" (gravity) air
intake into domicile interior (originally intended as combustion air supply
for Water heater and original furnace (which was older, standard vertical
flue {gravity} exhausted).
House (Front) East Wall with Furnace Exhaust
/Intake
-- and Vent (behind gutter drain pipe)
for "fresh" gravity intake air (including water heater combustion air)
(via second floor joist space) into interior alcove space for water heater
and the original (older, standard) furnace in lower (basement) floor, and
into whole house air.
Note proximity of Furnace exhaust, not only
(the <10inches) to grill of fresh gravity air intake vent (right of
door, behind down spout), but also to door (<4ft) and windows (4'4"
and 5'0") on the (prevailing winter wind striking) East (front) face of
home. Also note the 'Trapping' of exhaust plume presented by roof overhangs
and porch roof
Furnace Exhaust
(upper) and combustion air intake (lower) in proximity (less than 10 inches)
to "fresh" gravity air vent (via joist space) into water heater / furnace
alcove (in east {front} basement {family} room)
- Note: Screens were added (approx. one and
one-half years after purchase) onto openings of furnace intake and exhaust
tubes by current buyer (because he presumed that insects which were occasionally
pestering occupants were entering living space through these tube -- not
understanding this combustion system is a "closed circuit" and not open
- unless broken or leaking - to house interior).
- Prior to this screen installation the system
was vulnerable to insects, bird or vermin entrance which would have presented
added challenge (including squirrel cage fan fin loading / blockage) to
proper combustion air supply and exhaust induction, and appropriate combustion
Notice the dirty intake screen (indicating draft
of high hydrocarbon (soot) contaminated combustion intake air -- exhaust
re-burn or "dirty burn"). Also note flakes of combustion chamber deposits
(or coatings) caught on inside of exhaust screen (upper tube).
Heat of exhaust "cooks" off exhaust hydrocarbons
(soot), hence the cleaner appearance of exhaust screen, but the cooler
intake screen retains drafted hydrocarbon contaminant residues.
Side View Furnace Exhaust/Intake & Fresh
Gravity Air Vent cluster
Vent: Joist space carries "fresh" gravity air
from outside (by H.E. Furnace Exhaust/Intake Pipes) into Water Heater /
Furnace Space (Alcove) inside house. A piece of carpet {now rotted and
sagging} was placed behind grill by privious owners -- appearently
to reduce/restrict "cold" outside air (or furnace exhaust fumes) from entering.
e
Water Heater / Furnace Space: Joist space carrying
outside air into alcove is directly above water heater. Also note final
horizontal exiting of exhaust and intake PVC tubing in adjacent joist space.
Water heater also has a 4 to 3 inch reducer on its flue.
Water Heater / Furnace Space (with joist space
carrying outside air is directly above water heater) within East basement
'Family' room. Note direct freedom of air to pass easily though lovered
doors of alcove and continue unobstructed through 'family' (& furnace)
room doorway (without door) to accenting stairs to rest of home, including
bedrooms above.
Furnace: High Efficiency Payne, Pulse
90, 88,000 BTU, Natural Gas, subsequently installed with PVC (horizontal
exited) flue and intake in place of original standard (Lennox) vertical
flued furnace. Change out occurred sometime prior to purchase of home by
current (adversely effected) family. Tests showed ingnition and flame-out
("dirty" exhaust re-burn) re-ingintion bursts produced exhaust leakage
(high CO, etc) from flame observation glass seal (dark round glass in photo
center) and from induction fan seals (see second photo below).
Furnace induction combustion exhaust fan: Note:
Repair of fan has been done with a hand cut gasket -- not a manufacture's
exact replacement part. Also silicon caulking has been wiped on metal
tee adapter at induction fan joint (upper center, black steel fitting),
also at induction fan base and furnace combustion chamber cover panel joint
(lower left).
Silicon wiped on joints of exhaust line pipe
(left)
- none on intake line (right) -- (indicating
a perceived exhaust leakage)
The Fireplace in Living room, when fired, adds
appreciably to (chimney lift caused) negative pressure of domicile's living
spaces.
- It would be used in times of profound cold
(with furnace also running), causing an even higher drafting of air through
the only one constantly available (domicile's barometric balancing) fresh
(gravity) air vent, adjacent to an already maximum demanded burning furnace's
exhaust, on the East facing - and prevalent Easterly winter night winds
struck wall.
House crawl space under ground floor
section of the Living room and Kitchen (with dining and laundry addition)
is tightly sealed, and though 'anti-moisture' vented (3) at south,
west and west center (under addition) foundation, with grilled and screened
openings, it cannot contribute any air to satisfy negative
pressures experienced in the interior living spaces of the domicile.
- So only the one
"fresh" (gravity) air intake vent on the home's East wall, adjacent
(within
10 inches - click to review photos shown above) to the
H.E. furnace exhaust, can perpetually provide
inflow of air to satisfy the domicile's negative (barometric) pressure
demands.