Hello;

Just had a new Goodman air cond/furnace unit put into my home. The
contractors cut the existing fresh air intake PVC pipe that used to be
connected directly to the old unit, and left it open about 2' from the
furnace room ceiling. The pipe has no screen on it anywhere.

Obviously I know nothing about this stuff, but here are my questions
anyway ...

1) Does this installation sound like it's to code? (I live in OH.)

2) From Googling, I've seen that some people recommend that the fresh
air intake duct should discharge no more than one foot from the
floor. Is this true, and if so, why?

3) I've also seen recommendations for putting a couple of 90 degree
elbows on the pipe to form a U shape, like a sink trap, to help buffer
air coming in (U shape holds denser cold air).

4) Should I just put a coarse screen over the pipe on the outside of
the house to keep bugs out etc., or is something else recommended?

Thanks for helping out a novice.

On Jul 12, 4:35 am, Dave wrote:
Hello;

Just had a new Goodman air cond/furnace unit put into my home. The
contractors cut the existing fresh air intake PVC pipe that used to be
connected directly to the old unit, and left it open about 2' from the
furnace room ceiling. The pipe has no screen on it anywhere.

Obviously I know nothing about this stuff, but here are my questions
anyway ...

1) Does this installation sound like it's to code? (I live in OH.)

2) From Googling, I've seen that some people recommend that the fresh
air intake duct should discharge no more than one foot from the
floor. Is this true, and if so, why?

3) I've also seen recommendations for putting a couple of 90 degree
elbows on the pipe to form a U shape, like a sink trap, to help buffer
air coming in (U shape holds denser cold air).

4) Should I just put a coarse screen over the pipe on the outside of
the house to keep bugs out etc., or is something else recommended?

Thanks for helping out a novice.

Is the intake outside or inside, it should be outside if you are
talking about the combustion air intake, the instructions should be
followed for the instalation. #2 you say intake discharge near the
floor, you are not clear on your description, intakes intake not
discharge, and why the floor. call the city heating inspector you
might have had a bad install, you pull a permit and get a free
inspection where the city will back you up on contractor issues.

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:35:42 -0700, Dave
wrote:

Hello;

Just had a new Goodman air cond/furnace unit put into my home. The
contractors cut the existing fresh air intake PVC pipe that used to be
connected directly to the old unit, and left it open about 2' from the
furnace room ceiling. The pipe has no screen on it anywhere.

Obviously I know nothing about this stuff, but here are my questions
anyway ...

1) Does this installation sound like it's to code? (I live in OH.)

2) From Googling, I've seen that some people recommend that the fresh
air intake duct should discharge no more than one foot from the
floor. Is this true, and if so, why?

3) I've also seen recommendations for putting a couple of 90 degree
elbows on the pipe to form a U shape, like a sink trap, to help buffer
air coming in (U shape holds denser cold air).

4) Should I just put a coarse screen over the pipe on the outside of
the house to keep bugs out etc., or is something else recommended?

Thanks for helping out a novice.

Call and tell the installer that the guys here said to put it
outside.

On Jul 12, 2:22 pm, ransley wrote:
On Jul 12, 4:35 am, Dave wrote:





Hello;

Just had a new Goodman air cond/furnace unit put into my home. The
contractors cut the existing fresh air intake PVC pipe that used to be
connected directly to the old unit, and left it open about 2' from the
furnace room ceiling. The pipe has no screen on it anywhere.

Obviously I know nothing about this stuff, but here are my questions
anyway ...

1) Does this installation sound like it's to code? (I live in OH.)

2) From Googling, I've seen that some people recommend that the fresh
air intake duct should discharge no more than one foot from the
floor. Is this true, and if so, why?

3) I've also seen recommendations for putting a couple of 90 degree
elbows on the pipe to form a U shape, like a sink trap, to help buffer
air coming in (U shape holds denser cold air).

4) Should I just put a coarse screen over the pipe on the outside of
the house to keep bugs out etc., or is something else recommended?

Thanks for helping out a novice.

Is the intake outside or inside, it should be outside if you are
talking about the combustion air intake, the instructions should be
followed for the instalation. #2 you say intake discharge near the
floor, you are not clear on your description, intakes intake not
discharge, and why the floor. call the city heating inspector you
might have had a bad install, you pull a permit and get a free
inspection where the city will back you up on contractor issues.-

One end of the intake is outside, the other side is inside, as usual.
The inside part (what I called the "discharge" part, sorry if that was
the wrong term) was connected directly to the previous unit; now it is
open and ends about two feet from the ceiling, angled at about 45
degrees towards the unit ... in other words, the contractors just cut
the pipe near the old unit and left it as is.

I looked at the installation instructions that came with the new
unit. It describes a "direct vent installation" where the pipe is
connected directly to the unit's combustion air intake, or an
"indirect vent installation" where it recommends putting a 90 degree
piece on the unit's intake just to prevent it from being blocked. It
doesn't say anything about what to do with the inside end of the pipe.

I Googled and found references to the pipe ending a foot or less above
the floor, which is why I mentioned that. Who knows the reason why.

Thanks for the replies folks ....

On Jul 15, 9:30 am, Dave wrote:
On Jul 12, 2:22 pm, ransley wrote:





On Jul 12, 4:35 am, Dave wrote:

Hello;

Just had a new Goodman air cond/furnace unit put into my home. The
contractors cut the existing fresh air intake PVC pipe that used to be
connected directly to the old unit, and left it open about 2' from the
furnace room ceiling. The pipe has no screen on it anywhere.

Obviously I know nothing about this stuff, but here are my questions
anyway ...

1) Does this installation sound like it's to code? (I live in OH.)

2) From Googling, I've seen that some people recommend that the fresh
air intake duct should discharge no more than one foot from the
floor. Is this true, and if so, why?

3) I've also seen recommendations for putting a couple of 90 degree
elbows on the pipe to form a U shape, like a sink trap, to help buffer
air coming in (U shape holds denser cold air).

4) Should I just put a coarse screen over the pipe on the outside of
the house to keep bugs out etc., or is something else recommended?

Thanks for helping out a novice.

Is the intake outside or inside, it should be outside if you are
talking about the combustion air intake, the instructions should be
followed for the instalation. #2 you say intake discharge near the
floor, you are not clear on your description, intakes intake not
discharge, and why the floor. call the city heating inspector you
might have had a bad install, you pull a permit and get a free
inspection where the city will back you up on contractor issues.-

One end of the intake is outside, the other side is inside, as usual.
The inside part (what I called the "discharge" part, sorry if that was
the wrong term) was connected directly to the previous unit; now it is
open and ends about two feet from the ceiling, angled at about 45
degrees towards the unit ... in other words, the contractors just cut
the pipe near the old unit and left it as is.

I looked at the installation instructions that came with the new
unit. It describes a "direct vent installation" where the pipe is
connected directly to the unit's combustion air intake, or an
"indirect vent installation" where it recommends putting a 90 degree
piece on the unit's intake just to prevent it from being blocked. It
doesn't say anything about what to do with the inside end of the pipe.

I Googled and found references to the pipe ending a foot or less above
the floor, which is why I mentioned that. Who knows the reason why.

Thanks for the replies folks ....- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If an installer messed up something simple I would want the building
inspector to go over the whole instal. You could say on your call to
the city inspector the installer said he would take care of any
required permits. Even if you need to pay for a permit it is well
worth while getting, as you get a free inspection, for your own saftey