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donkeykong · Apr 4, 2006, 07:12 AM

Hello everyone
I have a quick question. One of the pipes which is attached to our furnace and leads outside cracked about 8 months ago. The repairman came and took care of it using waterproof adhesive sealant. A few weeks ago, another repairman came to clean up a natural gas leak and I asked him to inspect our heater. He inspected and told me that it hadn't been repaired correctly. I asked him what to do, who to call, etc. but he got a call and ran off.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
Thanks

RickJ · Apr 4, 2006, 07:26 AM

If it's a duct "leading outside", you should find
1. one going to your chimney that vents the exhaust, and
2. newer systems have one leading outside that is actually additional cold air intake.

If it's an intake, you can use good duct tape with no problems at all. If it's the one venting exhaust, then you should replace the section that is cracked.

donkeykong · Apr 4, 2006, 07:57 AM

Thanks rickj for the quick reply

The pipe that I'm referring to is the one venting exhaust, but it leads out the side wall. I'll try to post a pic.
So I should only replace the portion that's cracked and not replace it altogether? Does it pose any health risks?
Thanks again

RickJ · Apr 4, 2006, 08:04 AM

Yes, absolutely, on the health risks. That exhaust is heavy carbon monoxide... and gets real hot, which is why you can't just use duct tape on it.

... and yes, a digital pic will be helpful.

(The upload option (called Manage Attachments) is visible once you click on the Answer this Question button).

donkeykong · Apr 4, 2006, 11:59 AM

But wouldn't heavy co kill you in a matter of minutes? Also, my co detector doesn't go off. I do however have trouble sleeping at home. During my spring break, I slept over at a couple of friends houses and I slep like a baby but at home, I have poor sleep.
Thanks again

RickJ · Apr 4, 2006, 12:13 PM

With just a crack, most of the CO is going out... but at the same time you don't want to say "oh well, a little extra CO won't hurt me". I don't use a CO detector so don't know about the levels they detect, or how much CO is actually going into your home, but replacing the section of that duct will probably cost you under $10 and take you less than 1/2 hour to do... A cheap way to reduce the potential harm of the situation.

Do, though, post a pic if you can so we can take a look - and be sure we're all on the same page.

donkeykong · Apr 4, 2006, 01:16 PM

You, that's true. Well, I live in a townhouse and my dad is renting it. Our landlord also inspected the furnace two weeks ago and he said that everything is fine. I told him about the repairman who pointed out that the crack hadn't been sealed properly but he simply brushed out off and insisted that everything is fine.
I'll try to borrow my cos' digital cam and post a pic.
I appreciate your help rickj,thanks

RickJ · Apr 4, 2006, 01:41 PM

I can tell you this: If the city knew there was a crack in a furnace exhaust duct, they'd probably issue a 24-hour emergency order to have it taken care of.

In my city they are quite serious about that kind of thing.

(I'm not suggesting you call the city; it makes for a bad relationship... but Definitely tell him you know that there is a health risk and to please take care of it asap. Since you've gone nearly 8 months with it like that, I'd think no risk to give the landlord a couple days before you start to get a little huffy with him.

donkeykong · Apr 5, 2006, 01:24 PM

Thanks rickj and tkrussell
How do I call the city? I live in canada, who exactly do I call.
Actually, for the past year, my health has been detoriating. I've been to the doctor about 5 times and he keeps telling me that my symptoms are due to my thyroid disorder. And yet every time I do a blood test, the results come back normal (I'm on synthroid right now).
I think I can say the same for the rest of my family as well. We all have very poor sleep, have memory problems (my memory used to be great), trouble breathing, and a host of other problems. Can this all be the result of our faulty furnace?
Also, the repairman said that eventually water will start to drip out of the cracked pipe because it hasn't been sealed properly.
Take care

RickJ · Apr 5, 2006, 01:31 PM

Water dripping out of the pipe? Hold the phone. Now it doesn't sound like an exhaust duct. Water would not be coming out of an exhaust duct.

Regardless of what it is, you should let the landlord know that it needs fixed asap... and that you don't want to ruin the relationship, but will call the city for an inspection if it is not taken care of within 2 days.

... or post a pic for us to direct you more specifically...

tkrussell · Apr 5, 2006, 02:00 PM

Your symptoms sure sounds like CO poisioning to me.

Water can be dripping out of the duct, due to condensation of moisture in the flue gases, and this water is what probably caused the corrision of the duct.

Contact your city hall, or even a local fire dept, and ask how to get in touch with the appropriate agency that handles code enforement of exhaust ducts for a furnace.

donkeykong · Apr 5, 2006, 06:24 PM

Yikes!!
That's pretty scary, innit? We better abandon this house immediately.
Man, I'm so upset right now. My landlord had our natural gas appliances inspected twice over the past year, but he reported that everything was fine.
So if you're exposed to small amounts of co for a long period, it won't kill you but it will harm your health?

tkrussell · Apr 5, 2006, 06:51 PM

From the EPA site:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht....ing%20Symptoms

I found the following:

CO Poisoning Symptoms

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

And here from http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include:

* Headache
* Fatigue
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Dizziness

If any of these are familiar then you need to get checked and have the duct checked.

If there is a gap that allows flue gases to leak then there is a serious problem. Any corrision will continue more quick than you think, with the water, heat, and already correded sheetmetal.

letmetellu · Apr 5, 2006, 07:16 PM

If this is a very long vent pipe or if it was installed wrong it is very possible that the water dripping you are talking about is condensation forming in the long vent pipe. The hot air coming out of the furnace and traveling through the vent pipe is very hot as it leves the furnace and as it travels through the vent it cools and the moisture in the air begins to condense on the wall of the vent pipe and then run out the crack. It is very possibloe that the condensation is what made the crack in the first place. CO is very dangerous and can accumialte in your blood over time. Go to a medical web site and read up on it, look at the symptoms.

donkeykong · Apr 6, 2006, 03:14 PM

Thanks everyone for the quick responses, I appreciate it
If I get a blood test done, will it show the co levels? Can you guys tell me if any other gases are bing emitted through the crack.
Do you guys think I can take legal action against the inspectors or my landlord and would you recommend it? Like I said, my health is getting worse, I'm having difficulty reading and writing, which I thought was associated with my thyroid disorder, and many other problems. My grades are pretty bad, even though I try to study, but most of the time I don't have the energy. I had pretty good grades in high school.
I'll try to post my pic so you have a better idea of what's going on with my furnace
Take care everyone

tkrussell · Apr 6, 2006, 04:26 PM

I am not sure how CO is detected in the body, but getting checked by a doctor will be the best bet.

Then if it is determined that there is CO absorbed, next contact an attorney for the best path you should proceed to next.

donkeykong · Apr 7, 2006, 08:30 AM

Thanks tkrussell and letmetellu for your feedback
So you guys think it`s due to low levels of carbon monoxide? tkrussell, I read on of the websites you provided that the chances of detecting carbon monoxide in your blood are low? Got any idea why?
And yeah, the symptoms apply to me and the rest of my family as well. I`m going to call my doc today. In the meantime, I`m going to convince my dad to leave the house, and call an inspector. Do you guys recommend calling the landlord to inspect the house or finding one in the yellow pages? As I said before, my landlord has done a very poor job of ensuring we`re safe.
Take care everyone

donkeykong · Apr 9, 2006, 11:36 AM

I took some pics of my furnace, but I'm unable to upload them because they're too big, about 1600x1200. Anyone know how to reduce the size?
thanks

donkeykong · Apr 10, 2006, 08:55 AM

No responses?
Can someone please answer my last question? Thanks

RickJ · Apr 10, 2006, 09:04 AM

It's a software issue: Do you have any Photo Editing software? If not, here's one method:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=15873