See what we found on a job?

RayWohlfarth

Customer complained of headaches. This is what we found above the drop ceiling in the return air plennum

STEVEusaPA

Well...you probably saved some lives (or at least cured some 'illnesses').
Did you get any CO readings from a personal monitor (or your analyzer)?

ratio

EBEBRATT-Ed

Scary.

I have seen a lot of flue pipes that are not secured well enough for me, not enough screws and no hangers.

It may stay up fine during normal operation.

But,...............will it stay up if you get a puff back?

That's my criteria

Steamhead

So the smoke pipe goes thru the return-air plenum? Whoever did that should not be in the business.

Rich_49

Open plenums are disgusting and should be outlawed . Run ducts or figure something else out . Good thing you found this Ray , good job

RayWohlfarth

@STEVEusaPA We were there to look at installing an AC unit.
@ratio That was my reaction when I saw this LOL
@EBEBRATT-Ed We were told this did not work and then it started while there.
@Steamhead I agree Some people are real hacks.
@Rich Thanks. Return air plennums are dangerous

clammy

Seems that no one knowns that they should be installed a single wall to double wall appliance adapter .Even on jobs i see inspected they never use them and when i do a job w permits the inspectors always look at the adp strangely and i tell them what it is and they usually say they never seen one funny cause that what is supposed to be used to prevent what rays picuture posted . great find ray its sad that some many have no idea of what there doing or more don t care and wouldnt spend the 46 dollars on the correct adp.peace and good luck clammy

NY_Rob

RayWohlfarth said:

Customer complained of headaches. This is what we found above the drop ceiling...

They were fortunate they could still complain... dead men don't get headaches.

No CO detectors in the building?

RayWohlfarth

@clammy Right! How much extra would a proper adaptor cost in the scheme of things.
@NY_Rob Great point No CO detectors in space.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Most all commercial buildings have return air plenums. Your not going to change that.

As far as the fluepipe in the RA plenum it doesn't sound like the best idea.....................Return air plenum is not supposed to contain any plastic, pvc piping, or plastic covered wiring Romex etc.

Conduit, greenfield, mc cable anything metal is ok.

Flue pipe doesn't seem right but I am thinking it meets code. Have to look that one up

Harvey Ramer

A return air plenum has the potential to be at a lower static pressure than the flue. The only flue that should be allowed through the plenum is one that has no joints inside the plenum, and has welded seams.

Mike_Sheppard

We had a building with one woman who was constantly complaining of being light headed and dizzy and insisted it was because the boiler exhaust was leaking. I went out and checked the flue, the chimney, and checked combustion on the boiler. Everything was good. I checked back with the building maintenance a few weeks later and the lady was in the hospital. She was having heart attacks.