Larry,

I know this may sound costly, but it may turn out to be about a draw
compared with some other options you listed.

You didn't say what kind of furnace you have but sounds like it depends on
inside air to be drawn in for combustion. Look at direct vent furnaces.
Mine is a Carrier that uses 2" PVC pipes to draw in outside air and vents
the exhaust via another 2" PVC pipe. I also have a Central air unit.

Don't know how old the unit is but check with your local utility and see
about any upgrades they may be co-sponsoring with local furnace suppliers to
encourage installing energy efficient appliances. We were pleasantly
surprised when we switched from electric to natural gas and got a $100
rebate from the utility as well as $200 from Carrier.

Bob S.


"Larry Levinson" wrote in message
...
am in desperate need for advice about my basement woodshop and the
furnace/central air unit. we share the same space, with no separation.
the local utility guy just told me on the phone that my options are as
follows, or I will kill the unit ...

1) Turn off the unit while working (freeze the family.) at the end of
the session, open the front, vacuum it out and the area immediately
around it before turning it back on.

2) Box in the unit and figure out someway to supply air.

a) new outside air supply? sounds expensive.
b) louvered opening in the ``wall'' that backs on to the
laundry room? (lint issues, but obviously much less than sawdust.)
c) cut the access door, with louvers, in the laundry room
wall, which would elimate the workspace used by SWMBO for her jewelry
hobby.

what do all you guys do about this?

REALLY want to avoid having to move to the garage ...

UPDATE: I currently have a Jet 650 CFM dust collector with two
diverters to handle tablesaw, router, jointer and planer, plus an air
cleaner that I built from the American Woodworker plans a few years
ago.

UPDATE 2: anyone in the Trenton area want to go in on an
office/warehouse lease with me? there is a place on Flock Rd. Have yet
to ask the rent ...

TIA
Larry Levinson
Talking up to the vocal ...
LLevinson*Bloomberg.net
(remove the star etc ....)