carle3 Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I have a Rheem condensing gas furnace that has been vented out the sidewall of the home. I know we have covered topics on where the vent can be placed in relation to windows, corners but is there a specification as to the seperation between the exhaust and intake ports. I haven't been able to find any source on this item so I am thinking that my opinion that these two vents need more seperation is wrong. Image Insert: 87.87 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence McCann Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Call your local Rheem dealer and refer to the installation instructions. You can also try doing a Google search for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carle3 Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Thanks Terry but it was 11:00pm at night and I was looking for more immediate information from those that may know in order to get this report out. I did google this and all Rheem has on-line are technical specification and product information sheets, no installation instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric B Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Carl, My money is on the installation being wrong. Too much chance of pulling the corrosive combustion gas back into the furnace and rotting out the heat exchanger. You're absolutely correct to question this. You could write that the pipes are in close proximity to each other and may not meet furnace manufacturer's venting specs while verbally explaining to the client the reason for concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I have the current installation instructions for a Rheem condensing furnace. The diagram shows the intake and exhaust to within 5" of each other. A concentric termination kit will also have both the intake/exhaust very close together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carle3 Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Eric, that is my line of thinking too, but in my search I found no documentation to support this and as Neal has stated there are terminations that have a combined exhaust and intake port within close proximity to each other. I adopting it as a non-issue unless I get educated to the contrary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I think this condition poses a good example of the fine line that home inspectors walk. I believe its lazy and maybe even negligent to just default to the lowest common denominator by calling it wrong even though one doesn't know what the install instructions state. We also can't be expected to have memorized all the mfr's install instructions and produce a report in a reasonable period. Unless one is entirely sure whether the install is wrong or right, I would state: "While the HVAC tech is servicing and cleaning the unit, (probably 95% of the furnaces I see need servicing), have him double check the vent and intake air ports on the side of the house. Make sure they're installed to the mfr's specfications." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.