I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

wrote in message

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning.

The person coming out should have fixed this hte first time. The original
installer was incompetant and should have fixed it right. The service man
is a thief taking advantage of her.



Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

That is what should have been done the first time. At the top all you have
to do is put a "tee" so it is vented on two sides.

need to make sure that it doesnt exceed maximum length or number of elbows as
stated in the venting table in the installation manual

should work other wise , or some body could go and dig them out every time it
snows ,



wrote:
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a

On Feb 13, 2:28*am, wrote:
I just got a call from one of my relatives. *They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. *Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. *Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed. *

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. *I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn. *

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. *Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. *The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. *She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. *Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. *They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. *She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney. *

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust. *

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. *I think they are too low. *It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow. *

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? *Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting. *

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

It was installed improperly, sure you could raise it or for now maybe
put something over and around it to keep the snow from building up
over that area. If the inspector saw it he would have made the Hack
installer fix it which he should if he wasnt a crook. You could maybe
still pull a permit to get the original installer cited to fix his
hack. Or have him fix it and dont pay him.

On Feb 13, 7:52�am, ransley wrote:
On Feb 13, 2:28�am, wrote:





I just got a call from one of my relatives. �They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. �Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. �Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed. �

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. �I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn. �

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. �Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. �The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. �She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. �Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. �They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. �She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney. �

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust. �

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. �I think they are too low. �It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow. �

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? �Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting. �

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

It was installed improperly, sure you could raise it or for now maybe
put something over and around it to keep the snow from building up
over that area. If the inspector saw it he would have made the Hack
installer fix it which he should if he wasnt a crook. You could maybe
still pull a permit to get the original installer cited to fix his
hack. Or have him fix it and dont pay him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

dont move it too close to any window that can open

In article ,
wrote:

High Efficiency furnace...vents out thru the sillplate
They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow.

It won't help now but, in the future, she should hire an ETHICAL contractor.
The [blocked intake] repair should have been dealt with on the very first
visit.

For $150, the vents should have been cleared and the customer INFORMED of the
need for a modification to raise them. That could have been done somewhat
later for a modest fee.

Heck, the vents should have been installed HIGHER in the first place.

she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning

The repairman is a callous jerk. It's virtually impossible for the new
furnace to emit CO when it is NOT RUNNING!! When it IS running, the exhaust
vent fan MUST run or the system will shut down. Wotta @$$hole.

she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

Despite the expensive bills recently paid for service on the new furnace, she
will still enjoy smaller gas bills. It will now take a bit longer to "repay"
the upgrade cost due to the unnecessary, additional service calls, but
repayment will still happen. Tell her she did a good thing, regardless.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

I chose to install ONLY the exhaust line, leaving the furnace to draw warmed
combustion air from within the house. Yeah, I'm probably paying a bit more
for operation but I am assured of fresh air in the house - and it still uses a
LOT less air than the old one which was drafting warmed air up the flue ALL
the time. Had this same technique been used on the woman's installation, we
probably wouldn't be discussing it now.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The only thing that should be attached to the end of either pipe should be an
elbow, vertically aligned with openings facing up and down, on the exhaust
line. Even that is necessary only if there is still a CHANCE it may be
covered with snow. If you raise the lines sufficiently, such "protection"
SHOULD be unnecessary. My exhaust line simply has a wide-sweep 90 pointing
down. Of course, it is 10-ft off the ground.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

Find the installation manual for the furnace. It will specify the maximum run
length and number of bends (elbows) allowed. If you comply with that,
everything should be fine. Good luck.
--

JR

No project too small
All projects too big

wrote in message
...
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

You will need to make sure that condensation inside the exhaust pipe can run
out - you must not form a low spot where water will not flow either towards the
furnace or towards the outside. If the pipe coming out is sloped downward, it
must continue downward (or level - not upward) to the end of the pipe. If all
parts of the exhaust from the furnace to the outside slope upward or level, then
you can extend it upward. The condensation will flow back to the furnace and be
pumped out through the condensate pump.

Extending just the intake pipe, which might solve this problem, would be less
worrysome, as long as water cannot get into it via rain, sprinklers, etc.

Minimise elbows, and use larger radius ones if you can. Check the "installation
manual" for exact limits. This document should have come with the new furnace,
or can be obtained from the manufacturer. Check their web site.

While she may not be able to go out and shovel it clear herself, someone
must then be shovelling her doorway, sidewalk and other access areas, pay a
little extra to have them clear the snow from the vent, it has got to be
cheaper than paying a serviceman $150.00 to shovel the area after freezing
all night.

Also pay attention to the regulator on the gas meter, it should not be
buried under snow or ice as it can cause the pressure regulator to start
allowing the gas pressure to go too high at the appliances. This area needs
to be shovelled clear on a regular basis. Check with your gas company if you
don't believe me. I used to work for one before I retired.

wrote in message
...
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

what you propose is fine, as long as you stay 3' away from the window(s).
I've seen these exhaust/intake pipes up under the eaves.


s


wrote in message
...
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:57:19 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


wrote in message

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning.

The person coming out should have fixed this hte first time. The original
installer was incompetant and should have fixed it right. The service man
is a thief taking advantage of her.

In all honesty Ed you really can't say that without seeing the job.
The 90% or greater furnaces have pipe run limits. in some it's as
little as 30 feet. also each 90 degree el is equivalent to 5 or 10
feet of pipe depending on the model. what if they are at or near the
piping run limit? adding 1 90 degree el can cause major problems. what
the OP needs to do first is get the manual for the furnce in question
and check this.

On Feb 13, 3:28*am, wrote:
I just got a call from one of my relatives. *They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. *Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. *Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed. *

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. *I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn. *

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. *Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. *The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. *She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. *Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. *They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. *She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney. *

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust. *

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. *I think they are too low. *It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow. *

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? *Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting. *

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

I recently asked a simliar question over at http://www.hvacmechanic.com/forums/forums.htm.

My question related to extending the pipe *horizontally* along my
exterior wall just so that I didn't see the steam outside my kitchen
window - more of an asthetic issue than anything else. The answer I
got was a resounding No! due to the possibility of the condensation
freezing up and causing problems. In other words, with more pipe
exposed to the elements, I was asking for trouble.

In article
,
DerbyDad03 wrote:

I recently asked a simliar question over at
http://www.hvacmechanic.com/forums/forums.htm.

My question related to extending the pipe *horizontally* along my
exterior wall just so that I didn't see the steam outside my kitchen
window - more of an asthetic issue than anything else. The answer I
got was a resounding No! due to the possibility of the condensation
freezing up and causing problems. In other words, with more pipe
exposed to the elements, I was asking for trouble.

That's a good point. Now that I think about it, I have never seen more than a
12-18-inches exposed pipe.
--

JR

HVACTECH2 wrote in message
The person coming out should have fixed this the first time. The original
installer was incompetant and should have fixed it right. The service man
is a thief taking advantage of her.

In all honesty Ed you really can't say that without seeing the job.
The 90% or greater furnaces have pipe run limits. in some it's as
little as 30 feet. also each 90 degree el is equivalent to 5 or 10
feet of pipe depending on the model. what if they are at or near the
piping run limit? adding 1 90 degree el can cause major problems. what
the OP needs to do first is get the manual for the furnce in question
and check this.

Agree on the checking the manual, BUT - - - -

If you live in an area that gets a good amount of snow, provisions must be
made to eliminate the problem. If it happened once, it can happen again,
and to not fix it correctly is negligence. If you are in the heating
business you know about degree days, annual snowfall, low temperature
expectations, etc. You design accordingly. If you can't, you are
incompetent and should be bagging groceries.

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:53:52 -0500, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


HVACTECH2 wrote in message
The person coming out should have fixed this the first time. The original
installer was incompetant and should have fixed it right. The service man
is a thief taking advantage of her.

In all honesty Ed you really can't say that without seeing the job.
The 90% or greater furnaces have pipe run limits. in some it's as
little as 30 feet. also each 90 degree el is equivalent to 5 or 10
feet of pipe depending on the model. what if they are at or near the
piping run limit? adding 1 90 degree el can cause major problems. what
the OP needs to do first is get the manual for the furnce in question
and check this.

Agree on the checking the manual, BUT - - - -

If you live in an area that gets a good amount of snow, provisions must be
made to eliminate the problem. If it happened once, it can happen again,
and to not fix it correctly is negligence. If you are in the heating
business you know about degree days, annual snowfall, low temperature
expectations, etc. You design accordingly. If you can't, you are
incompetent and should be bagging groceries.


Yes, I do agree with you there. My only point was that you can't just
go throwing lengths of pipe and 90 degree ells in without knowing what
you are doing.

I have a 90%+ gas furnace that is vented with pvc pipe. We moved into a
development 6 years ago. In the 2nd year there were 4 homes on our street of
8 homes that lost their heat due to snow that blocked the intake pipes. In
all of the failed cases the intake and exhaust pipes were only 10 to 12
inches above the ground. I got the installation manual that was attached to
the return duct on our furnace and it stated that in areas of significant
snowfall the pipes (both intake and exhaust) should be extended to a height
of 12 inches above the maximum anticipated snowfall. It showed how an 90
degree elbow should be placed where the pipes exit the building and pieces
long enough to gain the necessary height placed into that elbow with another
90 degree elbow placed at the top pointing away from the building. Then a
short piece of pipe placed into those elbows. Then a reducer and a smaller
pipe was to be installed at the end of the exhaust pipe so as to create
enough back pressure to expel the exhaust gasses away from the house and the
intake pipe. The intake pipe had an additional elbow pointing down toward
the ground. Then after all that is done the exhaust should be insulated and
covered or painted to prevent UV damage.
Fortunately the hack that was installing the furnaces (108 of them) was
still working in the development and after a considerable amount of pressure
he finally extended all of the ones that were too low. I was going to take
him to small claims court and pay to have the pipes extended but what
finally got him to relent was that the pipes were a code violation. Whenever
a code says to follow the manufactures directions then those directions
become a part of the code for that particular item.
Watch for distances from windows and other exhausts. (water tank and drier
vents)
Hope this helps. Clint Stoner




wrote in message
...
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?

S. Barker wrote:

Top posting fixed

wrote in message
...
I just got a call from one of my relatives. They live quite a
distance from me but I am familiar with their house because I once
lived in it. Back when I lived there, the house had a traditional
natural gas furnace that vented out the chimney. Two years ago they
had a High Efficiency furnace installed.

The furnace vents out thru the sillplate, where the two PVC pipes exit
outside. I know there are less than two courses of concrete block
showing, so that means these pipes are a maximum of 14 inches from the
lawn.

They have had extreme snow this winter and the woman has had to call
in a furnace repairman 3 times, each call costing her around $150, and
each time these pipes were buried under the snow. Each time she has
nearly frozen to death because it always happens at night and she
believes that she can not call during the night and must wait until
morning. The woman is not in good health as it is, and she is unable
to go outdoors, much less shovel snow. She has a caregiver come daily
to help her, but they dont look at things like this. Besides that,
the snow turns to a block of ice from the heat and moisture and
requires lots of chipping to clear it.

Anyhow, she knows that I am handy and have done all sorts of home
repairs. They told me she is really upset because the repair guy told
her she could get carbon monoxide poisoning, and she must dig out the
snow. She said she wishes she would have kept the old furnace that
vented out the chimney.

While I am handy, I have not dealt with these H.E. furnaces, but I do
know how they work and the way they put 2 pipes out the side of the
house for intake air and exhaust.

Immediately after the call I got to thinking about extending the pipes
higher up the house siding. I think they are too low. It would be
easy enough to use a few PVC elbows pointed upware, add 2 or 3 feet of
pipe, strap it to the house, and put some traps on top so the pipes
dont fill with rain or snow.

The question is: Is this legal and acceptable?

If not, is there another solution? Putting an awning of sorts over
the pipes might help keep some of the snow off the pipes, but there
are limits on that due to blowing and drifting.

I'm sure this happens regularly, what are the solutions?


what you propose is fine, as long as you stay 3' away from the
window(s).
I've seen these exhaust/intake pipes up under the eaves.


s


But you have no way of knowing this because the OP didn't specify the
model furnace to determine allowable piping length and what is the
existing configuration (length and number of ells).

"Bubba" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:02:33 GMT, "clint"
wrote:

I have a 90%+ gas furnace that is vented with pvc pipe. We moved into a
development 6 years ago. In the 2nd year there were 4 homes on our street of
8 homes that lost their heat due to snow that blocked the intake pipes. In
all of the failed cases the intake and exhaust pipes were only 10 to 12
inches above the ground. I got the installation manual that was attached to
the return duct on our furnace and it stated that in areas of significant
snowfall the pipes (both intake and exhaust) should be extended to a height
of 12 inches above the maximum anticipated snowfall. It showed how an 90
degree elbow should be placed where the pipes exit the building and pieces
long enough to gain the necessary height placed into that elbow with another
90 degree elbow placed at the top pointing away from the building. Then a
short piece of pipe placed into those elbows. Then a reducer and a smaller
pipe was to be installed at the end of the exhaust pipe so as to create
enough back pressure to expel the exhaust gasses away from the house and the
intake pipe. The intake pipe had an additional elbow pointing down toward
the ground. Then after all that is done the exhaust should be insulated and
covered or painted to prevent UV damage.
Fortunately the hack that was installing the furnaces (108 of them) was
still working in the development and after a considerable amount of pressure
he finally extended all of the ones that were too low. I was going to take
him to small claims court and pay to have the pipes extended but what
finally got him to relent was that the pipes were a code violation. Whenever
a code says to follow the manufactures directions then those directions
become a part of the code for that particular item.
Watch for distances from windows and other exhausts. (water tank and drier
vents)
Hope this helps. Clint Stoner

You havent said a thing that isnt in the installation instructions of
every furnace.
Other than the blithering part about sueing someone.
Bubba

And you know for sure that the O.P. has and has read the manual?

"Bubba" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:31:01 -0800, "Bob F"
wrote:


"Bubba" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:02:33 GMT, "clint"
wrote:

I have a 90%+ gas furnace that is vented with pvc pipe. We moved into a
development 6 years ago. In the 2nd year there were 4 homes on our street of
8 homes that lost their heat due to snow that blocked the intake pipes. In
all of the failed cases the intake and exhaust pipes were only 10 to 12
inches above the ground. I got the installation manual that was attached to
the return duct on our furnace and it stated that in areas of significant
snowfall the pipes (both intake and exhaust) should be extended to a height
of 12 inches above the maximum anticipated snowfall. It showed how an 90
degree elbow should be placed where the pipes exit the building and pieces
long enough to gain the necessary height placed into that elbow with another
90 degree elbow placed at the top pointing away from the building. Then a
short piece of pipe placed into those elbows. Then a reducer and a smaller
pipe was to be installed at the end of the exhaust pipe so as to create
enough back pressure to expel the exhaust gasses away from the house and the
intake pipe. The intake pipe had an additional elbow pointing down toward
the ground. Then after all that is done the exhaust should be insulated and
covered or painted to prevent UV damage.
Fortunately the hack that was installing the furnaces (108 of them) was
still working in the development and after a considerable amount of pressure
he finally extended all of the ones that were too low. I was going to take
him to small claims court and pay to have the pipes extended but what
finally got him to relent was that the pipes were a code violation. Whenever
a code says to follow the manufactures directions then those directions
become a part of the code for that particular item.
Watch for distances from windows and other exhausts. (water tank and drier
vents)
Hope this helps. Clint Stoner

You havent said a thing that isnt in the installation instructions of
every furnace.
Other than the blithering part about sueing someone.
Bubba

And you know for sure that the O.P. has and has read the manual?


I dont even know if the O.P. can read, Bob. Do you?
Bubba

No, but I do know that the reply you criticised made some very good points.