Re: Gas Furnace Inflow Question


"CWLee" <cdubyalee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1yqRe.31$mz3.19892@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> My gas furnace continues to work well, as it has for 25
> years. The air intake to it is from an enclosed space below
> the furnace which in turn has a screened opening (12" x
> 18"?) into my living room about 1 foot off the floor. That
> space also has a small opening (4" x 6"?) to the outside of
> the house. Thus the cooler air from the living room, mixed
> with some air from the outside, is sucked into the furnace,
> heated, and sent out through the vent system.
>
> I just had my home fumigated, and when the gas company
> technician was turning the gas back on, and lighting the
> furnace pilot, he suggested that I close off the small
> opening to the outside. He said it would prevent rodents
> from entering the house, and would decrease my gas bill by a
> small amount.
>
> This small opening to the outside was purposefully placed
> there, along with a rain shield on the outside, by the
> builder of this group of tract houses. The home is on a
> concrete slab.
>
> Any safety or other reasons NOT to close off this opening,
> as the gas company representative suggested? In case
> climate is relevant, I live in the greater Los Angeles area.
>
> Thanks.

There are several legal ways to vent a gas appliance. I suggest that you
check with the local authorities about any changes your planning. Now days
the Plumbing code requires 2 vents one high and one low. My water heater
can draw air from the outside and the attic.

Personally I would not have the heater using inside air for combustion. It
is legal and is the way it was done for a long time, when gas was cheap. For
me it defeats the purpose of the heater. Moving all that air from inside the
house then replacing it with cold air. Properly sized vents to the outside
would allow you to pressurize your home (slightly) and keep the chances of
Carbon monoxide in the furnace room. Not where you breathe.


.

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