What type of vent is required for a high efficiency furnace?
A two pipe venting system should be installed that provides combustion air to the furnace directly from outside. Acidic condensate should be drained or pumped directly into the plumbing system.
Why do high efficiency furnaces use PVC pipe?
This combination of carbon dioxide and water would damage the type of vents used in conventional systems which run vertically out of a home. To combat this issue, high efficiency condensing furnace uses PVC pipes to extract the acidic water from your home.
Can you vent an 80% furnace with PVC?
Also, keep in mind, that all 90+% efficient furnace can be side wall vented with just PVC pipe and the need for all of the above is not necessary. In some cases, it is more economical to upgrade to a 90+% efficient furnace than to add all of the equipment and B-vent needed to side wall vent an 80% efficient furnace.
Can you use PVC pipe as exhaust pipe?
PVC or ABS plastic piping is often used on high-efficiency heating and water heating systems as vent piping for the exhaust gases, since the exhaust temperatures are relatively low.
Does you need cold air return with high efficiency furnace?
Since high efficiency furnaces draw air directly from outside, the furnace itself does not require a fresh air intake in order to replace inside air that otherwise would have been drawn from the room the furnace is located in.
How far can you run a vent for a high efficiency furnace?
Because high-efficiency furnaces use sidewall vents, they’re more susceptible to airflow blockages. The area around the sidewall vents should be clear of all airflow blockages for a minimum two feet in all directions. When air intake is blocked or hindered, fuel combustion suffers, and the furnace locks out.
What are the PVC pipes coming out of my furnace?
If your furnace is 90% efficient or greater, you probably have PVC pipes coming out of the wall of your home that look something like those pictured here. These pipes allow the furnace to intake fresh air and to safely vent flue gasses out of the home.
How far can you vent a high efficiency furnace?
The maximum vertical distance you can run a furnace exhaust vent is about 15 feet. If there is a forced air inlet within 10 feet of the exhaust vent, the exhaust gas ventilation terminal should be positioned at least 3 feet above it.
Can you use cellular core PVC for furnace exhaust?
The Supplemental Information to the installation instructions for one of the largest manufacturers of cell core PVC piping, Charlotte Pipe, states “Never use PVC or ABS cellular core pipe for combustion gas venting”.
Can you vent high efficiency furnace through roof?
Depending on the installation, a high efficiency furnace will have at least one, and sometimes two, PVC pipes exiting the home. In newly built homes these vents will usually exit thru the roof.
What is the white PVC pipe coming out of my house?
One pipe is an air conditioning condensate drain, also commonly referred to as an AC drain line. These pipes are usually white in color and are made from PVC piping. Another pipe you may find on the outside of your home is a water pressure relief valve, also known as a PRV drain line.
How long can a furnace vent pipe be horizontal?
Each manufacturer has a specific vent limit for their model of furnace as well as the input rating of the furnace. For example, 50K BTU furnace you can use 2″ pipe for 50ft but for a 80k furnace you can only use 2″ for 10ft. Once you exceed that limit, you’ll have to increase to larger pipe size diameter.