Huge Boiler Vent Unsightly!

BigColdHouse

I am so upset!!! I researched boilers for a month, thought I had asked every question... Selected the high efficiency boiler with indirect tank. Came home tonight to find the most unsightly venting- huge black tube up the side of my 1920's house, and huge steam billowing right onto our walk way at face level. I didn't dare walk in the path of this steam.. I had to walk out and around it..

I have an old house I am trying to restore. Shouldn't this company have advised me on how ugly this would look? They assumed I would know what this would look like and how much steam would be coming out? I have a chimney available, right there... This is the yard we spend all our outside time in (the only yard). Finally, there is a loud, hissing sound. Is this acceptable? I want to have the entire furnace removed and replaced with something that will make my yard and walkway usable, and will actually add not detract, from the value of my home.

Do I have a case here? I used a reputable company who has been in business for almost 100 years. Is it reasonable for me to ask them to take this thing away, if necessary and get me something else? And why can't it be vented throught the chimney (3 storey house)?

MK

Floyd_16

What brand and model boiler????

Some can be vented up through the chimney by running the new vent pipe all the way up the chimney. There also may have to be enough room to be able to get a fresh air pipe in the chimney also.
Need more info......stay cool all is not lost...:-)

Floyd

Justin Gavin_3

Move the vent

Have them move the vent out the chimney and take the combustion air from inside the house (if enough is available) or have them vent it outside horizontally (depending on the boiler).

To make things easier, talk to the contractor and split the difference in cost. The venting should have been discussed but in your opinion it wasn't. Maybe you should have told the contractor that the area they vented in was not acceptable. Contractors in general, as most humans will pick the most efficient way to finish a job and the area the picked probabaly made the most sense to the installer but not to you. So talk to the contractor about your concerns and offer to split the difference in cost and he/she will probably work with you to make you happy. Remember this is a two way street and comprimise is the best solution in this situation.

Best of luck,

Jmg

Guy_6

Disagree

I disagree, as most, if not all high efficiency condensing products are sealed combustion, and must have an outside air supply.

I do agree however, that you should work with the contractor AND THE MANUFACTURER for a feasable alternative. Believe me, as a manufacturer's rep, we do understand issues like these, and like to find solutions wherever possible.
I am sure that one exists.

GW

Boilerpro_3

Work with the contractor

if possible. However, most venting instructions I've seen do not permit vents near walkways.....and neither do the codes.
Late in season installs do get rushed, so errors are made that typically don't occur when installs are completed earlier in the year.

Boilerpro

hr

We need a little more info

What brand and model boiler do you have? Did they leave the insytallation manual behind? If not go online or call the manufacture fo another. this may clear up some of the vent location issues.

Was a permit pulled and the job inspected? Often the inspector will consult the venting installations to see if they meet code.

It is a challange, sometimes, to retro fit a new vent system "inside" the building. I agree the contractor should give you a heads up when an external vent will be scabed onto your home

hot rod

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