I disabled a "working" furnace today

SuperTech

Earlier today I ended up shutting down a furnace when I was sent out originally just to do annual maintenance for a new customer. The furnace wasn't even two years old but it already was on it's second inducer motor. 120,000 BTU with 30' of 2" PVC for the vent. The vent was terminated on an inverted corner of the building. The vent piped was also sloped down from the boiler towards the wall. Because the vent was so undersized the inducer couldn't pull the-1.20" needed to close the pressure switch. The installer just left the switch jumped out. The installers decided the low gas pressure switch wasn't necessary when they did the LP conversion kit (installers were from the LP supplier).

I judged the furnace to be unsafe due to missing and bypassed safety devices and incorrect venting. The homeowner was furious that the LP company left it running like that

The return doubles as a central vacuum system

RayWohlfarth

wow scary All the installer had to do was to read the manual

HVACNUT

That return is just an open plenum?
That's pretty gross.
I like the return grate. Can a blind box be installed underneath the grate and run flex to the return trunk?
Is there a filter rack?

SuperTech

Yeah the return was just open ductwork, luckily there was a filter rack to prevent all the debris that floor grill sucks in from getting inside the furnace.

The manual was completely ignored on this installation.

GBart

Please call the authorities and have these people dealt with, that is not how to leave a unit.

If your state has licensing their licenses should be pulled.

SuperTech

It was just terrible. Just wrong every way possible. The customer actually called back and asked if we could turn it back on until he can get it repaired! I guess I didn't stress enough how unsafe the furnace is.

DZoro

They actually ran a sheet metal screw into the exhaust pvc for the "pipe support". Oh my.....

Steamhead

RayWohlfarth said:

wow scary All the installer had to do was to read the manual

That seems to be asking too much these days...............

Leonard

Screw in the exhaust for support ..... that will rust out.
I once was hanging a fire extinguisher on a wood board and didn't know I drove the steel nail thru a copper pipe hidden under it.

After about 6 months of corrosion as I quickly shut off the sink I heard water spraying. Luckily it was in our unfinished cement block car repair garage.

GBart

I used this as a mini lesson for students yesterday, this happens and once you are there YOU own it, if you leave it's your **** too.

Sometimes I have had to call the Building Inspector and/or Fire Marshall, people may get ticked off but you saved their lives, anyone who bypasses or jumps out safeties needs to be banned from working in our industry.

SuperJ

The scary thing is, the installer likely has dozens of other unreported systems out there, as bad or worse. Ticking time bombs.

SuperTech

> @SuperJ said:
> The scary thing is, the installer likely has dozens of other unreported systems out there, as bad or worse. Ticking time bombs.

This is my first concern as well. It's a pretty big LP company that did this. If they did this here and the tech with 30 years experience thinks it's okay, I have to wonder what else is out there that he's done half **** and unsafe. It's scary.