Re: Gas Furnace Inflow Question


"SQLit" <sqlit@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> There are several legal ways to vent a gas appliance.

I may not have expressed myself clearly, or perhaps I don't
understand what you mean by venting, but the situation I'm
talking about is the air to be heated and circulated through
the house. The issue is whether that incoming air should
remain a mixture of inside and outside air, or whether it is
better to use only inside air.

He also wrote:

> 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.

Sorry, but I'm having trouble understanding what is meant
here. I'm not talking about the air used for combustion,
but the air to be heated and circulated through the house.
The savings in dollars the gas company representative had in
mind was from NOT heating up cold outside air but rather
heating the inside air, which would be at a higher temp than
the outside air, and thus require less gas to increase its
temp to the desired level.

He also wrote:

> 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.

I assume it is already properly vented, since it has passed
several inspections by those familiar with local building
codes. I futher assume that the gas company representative
would not be suggesting something that would result in an
improperly vented furnace. As I understand the concept of
venting, it is a means to draw off the carbon monoxide and
other undesireable fumes so they are expelled to the
outside, and not circulated into the house. The gas
comopany representative did a "venting test" and told me
that the fumes were going just where they were supposed to
go, up the vent and through the roof.

Pehaps you can clarify what you meant after reading my
comments.

Thanks.

=======================

in message news:zFuRe.55$k21.8276@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "CWLee" <cdubyalee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1yqRe.31$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 ven
ts 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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