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    jbrady53's Avatar
    jbrady53 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jan 14, 2012, 10:26 AM
    Furnace intake piping
    When temperature is 10 degrees outside my intake pipe freezes up and my furnace will not work right. When I disconnect the intake pipe so it will take air from my basement. The furnace runs fine. Is it okey to draw air from my basement?
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #2

    Jan 14, 2012, 06:17 PM
    Yes, drawing the combustion air from your basement will be just fine. However, if the vent and intake are terminated correctly, the intake should not freeze up. Sounds like they may be to close together, allowing the moist exhuast to be drawn into the intake causing freezing. You could try putting a 90 fitting on both the intake and exhaust and angleing then away from each other at about 45 degrees. Or you may have a dryer vent near the intake? Anything that will allow warm damp air to enter the intake will cause freezing of the intake. Take a closer look at the vent and intake terminations, and let me know if there is anything that's seem like it could cause this. If everything is done correctly, and its still freezing up, then that is usually because it nice and cold, then there is snow being blown around (really cold temps with blowing snow just tends to cause these type of issues, in which case, pulling the combustion air from the basement is the best fix). Good luck, and please let me know what you decide.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #3

    Jan 14, 2012, 09:07 PM
    I am with MGD, this pipe should not freeze if it was done right. Exhaust should terminate at least 1' above the intake and I point the PVC in opposite directions also use elbows ro get intake pointed down. All older type firnaces and most hot water heaters burn household air. You paid extra to get a higher efficient furnace so only pull air from the basement to get your through the night and then fix this tomoorw.

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