\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. What a mess! Help hide these vents! - hiding furnace exterior | Ask MetaFilter Clean grime and dust from the thermostat housing and check the connections. Keeping furnace exhaust pipes clear is crucially important during heavy Exhaust from high-efficiency furnaces contains acidic water. HU-859772336 thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri, Mein Benutzererlebnis mit Cookies anpassen, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Need design ideas for enclosing gas fireplace vent pipe, Hide a furnace pipe chase in a bedroom wall. Any thoughts. The most straightforward method of concealing your furnace and water heater is to use a sliding curtain as a partition. In other cases, too many elbows in the pipe with horizontal sections and inadequately wide pipes can cause struggle when the fumes exit the furnace system. Then place some small bushes to distract the eye - 95%. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If the pipe that you're hiding is hot to the touch, avoid wrapping it with fabric. If the hole is to small just set the block on a piece of wood and use a hole saw to make it bigger. Also, when installing your furnace pipes, make sure the exhaust opening is facing up and the intake down. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. According to the analysis done by the manufacturers of the furnace exhaust pipe, the appliance burns the natural gas found in your home to ensure that the condition remains warm. I have a standard efficiency furnace with metal exhaust piping and have a condensation problem with water dripping into my fireplace in the winter when it is not raining. The exhaust is also cooled so that at the exit the exhaust is composed of primarily water vapor and carbon dioxide. How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter? If your furnace is having problems wi. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. You can also get some smaller evergreen Barberry in colors, but all aren't evergreen so research to make sure they are. As the gas undergoes combustion, the flue gases flow through the heat exchanger and exhaust pipe. If you have a high-efficiency furnace, then its PVC exhaust pipes will need to be sloped towards the furnace.Specifically, most installations require a minimum of of slope per foot of pipe. If you are looking for fairly generic plant selection ideas, which is what I imagine your realtor means, then you're better off enquiring at your local nursery rather than here. Try a bush. Here are seven creative ways to hide exposed pipes. How to Inspect and Clean Furnace Intake and Exhaust Pipes Cut plants growing nearby and remove clutter surrounding the pipes. However after the second year the furnace exhaust killed the top 1/3 of one holly. Can You Wait Too Long Between Coats of Paint? Sort by: Oldest sktn77a It is critical to understand that the furnaces using natural drafts are relatively cheap than those utilizing draft inducers. Once your tools are ready, you can start by measuring the space around the pipes. The acidic water will corrode metal exhaust pipes quickly. Answer (1 of 4): Not necessarily. Although painting pipes is a popular, inexpensive solution, you could also cover them with a material that blends into the rest of the room or embrace the pipes and make them a focal point of your space. It would still look ugly there. Does this make sense to you? How to build a wind shield for furnace vent - HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air This is a 2-inch concentric vent that makes it easier to two pipe installation in high-efficiency furnaces. It depends on your local codes. It can be used both vertically and horizontally. How can I hide my gas exhaust pipe? (our snow is measured in feet). Insulating the flue pipe. Clean Or Replace The Filter. Instead, wrap it with rope to insulate it. Furnace Exhaust Pipe Dripping Water? (Possible Causes & Fixes) A couple of years ago (2013) inherited a beautiful well kept 2 story home from my grandmother. Although not the norm, not totally uncommon in this area for some reason. He pulled the vent pipes off the furnace, checked the drain pipes and the rubber hoses that connect the pressure switches but he didn't find anything wrong. Lets get to know each of the two types in detail. I alternate between I Must Garden and Treeguard. How do I hide furnace exhaust pipes outside? | Hometalk Most newer furnaces and many of the newer boilers operate so efficiently that the exhaust is merely warm. Typically, you can reach a point and get it vital to carry out furnace replacement. This article has been viewed 36,344 times. Reduce noise pollution from high efficiency furnace discharge pipe What is the main reason behind the difference in prices between the two? Other potential hiding places include under couches or chairs. Note that if the pressure difference is minimal, the chances of pushing the fumes out of the house via the exhaust pipe becomes minimal. Of course insurance opted out because the house was unoccupied. This is precisely where the furnace exhaust flue becomes very important, ensuring that carbon monoxide is eliminated safely. This happens when the furnace exhaust pipe is blowing back via an open window or door.Note that it is normal to smell gas in the exhaust pipe from the HVAC system. Pipes in your living space might be a necessity, but they don't have to be an eyesore. Thanks for you help, There you go Andrew, this one is for you (don't tell me I need a LOL?). Overall, there are various options available to help you hide the furnace pipes inside and outside your home. Place potted plants around the pipes so they're less noticeable. Inside the furnace, there is a special type of equipment known as a damper/ natural draft. Painting them in a matching colour to your walls can help blend your unsightly pipework into your decor with minimal effort. This keeps the furnaces condensate contained inside your furnaces drainage system. You can try to paint your pipes. hiding furnace exhaust pipes - bridgeloans.money He notes the challenges of the weather in the winter months. For a polished finish, you can choose to sand, paint or stain the wood enclosure. Ensure that the pieces are tightly held together by at least four sheet metal screws. There are two reasons why furnace condensate shouldnt be drained outside: If your furnaces exhaust pipe is made out of metal, then you have a standard-efficiency furnace. I am in zone 7bso my plant choices might not work for you. If you decide to paint or stain the wood, make sure to shut your heating system off first. I hope you can figure out my plan and elevation. How To Hide Furnace And Water Heater - ERNIEGRAVES | Process For example, hang potted houseplants to hide ceiling pipes or place potted plants on low shelves to conceal pipes that are low to the ground. High efficiency (condensing) furnace venting. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like these posts: Diesel in Oil Furnace? Gas furnace exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as other harmful gases. This temperature range is hot enough to melt PVC pipes. Look for your furnace intake pipes, which are often white or black PVC pipes that exit a wall close to your furnace. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You can also light fixtures like decorative screens and full body mirror as cover. If I can revive it or plant new I'll either add a slight angle to the exhaust or wrap the holly in burlap to protect it and see how that works. An exhaust fan for furnace flue gases is called an inducer. micamom if you are also looking for evergreen you might try some of the small blue spruce. When winter rolled around I had the utilities turned off in the interest of saving the money that it would cost to keep the place heated so the pipes wouldn't freeze. Could we see the whole front of the house? The wall between the vanity and the tub could be either clear glass or tiled with a nickel frame with clear glass, depending if you want very contemporary or classic traditional. NYC apartments are certainly challenging! Exposed overhead pipes can be trickier to hide since you can't simply decorate around them. Copyright 2023 HVAC Solvers | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. How do I hide my furnace exhaust pipes? Last fall I had a landscaper remove all of the 50 year old deer eaten shrubs that made up the foundation planting. It's been a slow go but am preparing to move in soon. If you have an older natural draft furnace, you probably dont need an exhaust fan. Normally, condensation drains via a pipe and floor drain, but a clog or crack in the pipe can create a condensation leak. If you have a 92% or higher efficiency furnace than you should have a plastic flue pipe. . The furnace burns natural gas through a process known as combustion, thus developing heat among other toxic byproducts such as carbon monoxide. Basically you just need to make a much deeper planting bed on this side of the house. Answer: Most high-efficiency gas furnaces come with plastic vent pipes that are extended to the outdoors to eliminate toxic gases from the combustion chamber and introduce fresh air into the system from the surrounding. As mentioned earlier, the B-vent pipe is primarily designed for the expulsion of combustion gases. @callirhoe123. Spray 2-3 light coats with a few minutes gap between each coat. To work properly, a furnace needs adequate airflow. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. William on Jan 05, 2019 You shouldn't do anything that will block it as the fumes can back up. So make sure to ventilate your basement and be rid of the fumes before turning your heating system on again. 4. "The biggest . How to Inspect and Clean Furnace Intake and Exhaust Pipes Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. An exhaust pipe can reach temperatures of 300-400F. Angelique is a freelance writer with experience in HVAC and basic home repairs. . You can expand a planting area (or slightly elevate one) as recommended by Christopher C Nc and make it a superb focal point while hiding the view of these pipes/gas meter. They are the furnace intake and exhaust pipes. For now though, it is where it is. By using our site, you agree to our. This means that you should be extremely keen while handling this significant step. The natural draft then makes it easy to create a draft that helps pull the toxic gases via the pipe towards the outer part of the house. Dryer Wont Start But Has Power What To Do? 2. Check To See If Vents Are Unobstructed. Frozen Pipes Burst? The danger is the risk of carbon monoxide building up in the home if the furnace exhaust is clogged. Before the paint, spray your pipes with high-heat primer. It is what it is, so let's hide it. Should You Turn Off Your Gas Furnace in the Summer? As I mentioned earlier, the louvered slats and board and batten-style sides allow unobstructed airflow. Furnace Exhaust Pipe Side House. I have since replaced all the faucets and a couple of pipes that split and am finishing the sheetrock work and replacing the carpet and hardwood floors that buckled. I would love this bathroom! Instead, wrap it with rope to insulate it. We wanted a high efficiency furnace and unfortunately this was the only spot to vent it, but the sales guy sure did downplay how big the vent is and also led me to believe we could successfully landscape around it which I'm now second guessing. A larger planting bed with small shrubs will hide the vents and meter from the Curb Appeal view. Tip: Ensure that you use plants that work with your lighting conditions. This is because the only time condensation forms and drips is during the times when the furnace is also exhausting hot exhaust gases, which will keep the ice from forming high enough to block the the exhaust. A larger planting bed with small shrubs will hide the vents and meter from the Curb Appeal view. Newer high efficiency furnaces have plastic pipes which. According to studies, bamboo is able to retain 20%-40% of its tensile strength at 392F. Is the furnace's exhaust supposed to get hot? - Informinc You can see an example of this process in the video below. The piece that mounts to the wall is made in two pieces or has a split at the top. Water leaking from a furnace exhaust pipe is a sign of bigger problems. Dont forget to add1-inch galvanized hanger strap to make the installation process easy. FURNACE VENT PIPES A furnace that burns natural gas in order to heat your home produces combustion gases as byproducts and these byproducts need to be vented out of your home. This is said to be the way to get rid of fuel or gas that may not have been completely used in the furnace system. It is said that older furnaces use natural drafts to function while the modern type features draft inducers to operate exemplarily. At this point, all you require is a furnace to ensure that your home remains warm regardless of the changes in the weather condition. I just thought the louvered doors would be a nice touch. Some areas dont allow you to drain furnace condensate onto the ground because its acidity may pollute the groundwater. We also plan to add a window box under the window on the left. This brand's colors come in 4 varieties of gloss, flat black, flat aluminum, and flat red. Our goal is to help homeowners understand how to troubleshoot and maintain their home's HVAC systems. Why is that? Some older types of ABS pipes were known for cracking. This is the point at which the connection begins. Need to hide furnace and dryer exhaust pipes - Houzz Hold the can 8-12" away and in a steady motion, spray the pipe. This would be a five-year maintenance issue. 2) Measure the height of the water heater and, if required, trim the blanket to the appropriate size. hiding furnace exhaust pipes - eachoneteachoneffi.com