How do you vent a high efficiency gas furnace?

Proper sidewall venting requires installing separate vent pipes horizontally so that they vent to the outdoors through a wall of your home. These ventilation pipes should be isolated from the furnace combustion chamber and made airtight to eliminate the possibility of combustion gas leakage.

Should furnace exhaust pipe be covered?

High-efficiency gas furnaces have plastic vent pipes that extend to the outdoors to get rid of exhaust gases and bring in fresh air for combustion. If the vent pipes are not protected by screens, you take a big risk for furnace problems due to pipe obstruction or infestations from pests.

What type of venting is used on a high efficiency furnace?

Sidewall Venting
1. Sidewall Venting (High efficiency appliances) This type of venting uses a 1 or 2 pipe system. An intake and an exhaust pipe are run separately and can be placed through almost any exterior wall, so they provide greater placement flexibility for a new furnace.

How do I keep my furnace vent from freezing?

During the winter months, ensure that the exhaust vents are clear, with no snow or debris blocking them, as this can cause water to enter the system and freeze there. Ensure that the area around and below your furnace vent is cleaned to prevent anything from entering the system.

Can you vent a gas furnace through a wall?

Direct Vents These furnace vents can be installed horizontally through an exterior wall, or vertically so exhaust fumes go out through the roof. Although more costly than a natural vent, a direct vent is also a more efficient and safer option.

What is required when installing a 90 percent furnace that is not required for an 80 percent furnace?

PVC. What is required when installing a 90% furnace that is not required for an 80% furnace? A drain for the condensate from the recuperative coil.

Can you vent a 80% furnace through a wall?

An 80% efficient furnace CAN be side wall vented per National Fuel as Code 7.3. 4 with the use of a “mechanical draft system of either forced or induced draft design”. You CANNOT just take the vent off an 80% efficient furnace and run it out a side wall. You need to use an auxiliary power inducer.

Can you use PVC to vent a gas furnace?

Ironically, even though the presence of plastic vent pipes has become synonymous with high-efficiency condensing furnaces, PVC pipe manufacturers do not recommend PVC for this application. Nor are there any official ASTM standards for plastic pipe used as combustion gas venting.

How do I know if my furnace vent is clogged?

Turn on the heat or the air conditioning of your HVAC system. When the fan begins to blow, check all of the vents in each room for airflow. If there is a noticeable lack of blowing air through a specific vent, the duct may be blocked.

Can snow block your furnace vent?

A furnace vent can also become blocked by a buildup of snow or ice. So whether it’s for optimal efficiency or protection from carbon monoxide, it’s important to keep your furnace vents clear. Check on your furnace vent during and after heavy snowfalls, and clear snow away from the vent’s opening if it builds up.

What kind of venting does a natural gas furnace use?

A conventional natural gas furnace will vent the dangerous combustion gases through a simple vertical exhaust system that is attached to the furnace. The exhaust system typically uses metal venting, often routed into a chimney stack, to exhaust the combustion gases created in the furnace fire chamber.

How does a high efficiency furnace vent outside?

The low-temperature residual flue gases vent outside through special plastic pipes. When your new high-efficiency condensing furnace is installed, your contractor should take extra precautions to make sure all ventilation systems are properly placed and working correctly.

What kind of pipe do you need for a gas fired furnace?

Traditional gas-fired, forced-air furnaces produce hot combustion exhaust gasses and therefore need metal vent pipes, or chimneys. In contrast, modern high-efficiency condensing furnaces exhaust much cooler gasses and need only plastic pipe materials—such as PVC, CPVC, or ABS—for their exhaust vents.

What do you need to know about sidewall furnace venting?