Keeping insects out of furnace vent
How can I safely prevent bugs from building nests in a low temperature, high efficiency furnace'pvc vent? It seems likely to happen.
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You can't. That's where annual maintenance comes into play.
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That is sensible.
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They do come with a very coarse screen in most cases but that is more rodent sized.
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i dont want to use something that can accumulate ice, over time, creating a blockage and I don't want to cap over summer because I will forget. The vent is thirty feet long with a tee on the end which makes inspections hard. I think I will use insecticide.
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I would be careful with the Insecticide/Chemicals…It may void the Warranty !
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I'd be much more concerned about that than the screen that comes with it. The power vent water heater I installed came with a little circle of hardware cloth to glue in to a pvc joint and the boiler came with little round plastic screens to attach to the inlet and outlet with screws. Icing won't be a concern if your pitch is right and your heigh above max snow depth is right.
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Different environments produce different conditions…
Just last week at approx -25 F we had a Boiler that locked up due to the OEM Birdscreen icing up This Vent terminates approx. 10 Feet off the ground …We are at 9000 feet and in a dry enviroment.🤨
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Does your manual show the option for using inside air?
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream0 -
So if we add up @Derheatmeister vent location, that would be at 9010 feet above sea level. Maybe that is the hight of ice formation that you need to worry about @SlamDunk. Where are you located? Hope it's not too high! LOL
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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We have noticed that it has something to do with the moisture content of the combustion air.
When it is »»WET COLD/High humidity ««we see more Combustion air Screen iceups.
When it is »»DRY COLD/Low humidity«« we do not see these issues.
When we have Cold Dry Snow with high winds it can accually blow into the Boilers cabinet and cause all kinds of issues with the Electronics/Blowers which is why we like to use Tees on some of the vent terminations.😏
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Around here, I've seen more birds than insects in flues (&| intakes). One flue had about 6' full of straw etc.—far enough in that it couldn't be seen from the outside. I ended up having to cut it inside & rod it out with a dolled up chimney brush.
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the flue gases were wet exiting the vent with rh around 30. @mattmia2, The vent has plenty of pitch back to furnace. The install Passed inspection; the inspector walked around the job with the install manual. checking against tables in manual; Even opened breaker box to check cb’s and wire guages. not worried about warranty. the vent is 30+ft away from the furnace. @EdTheHeaterMan only 1800’ above sealevel. @ratio That is a scenario I havnt considered. @Hotrod The intake is in the basement at furnace.
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It does 😄….and it would work since the Garage has enough volume for this size boiler…However these boilers can sound like a jet engine and most of my customers do not appreciate that.
I am currently working on other alteratives for my combustion air needs which i will share when i got the "Bugs" figured out.😊
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My dad is only 2000ft and he sees -20F from time to time.
The fresh air intake actually frosts up the entire length.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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The pressure switches on modern furnaces work. If there's enough obstruction that operation will be unsafe, the unit won't fire.
Given the potential problems resulting from remediating an uncommon failure, just wait until it becomes an issue. Maybe get a game plan ready & have some spare parts on hand (coupling & glue, or Fernos coupling, etc.) for if it does occur.
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So I guess the 9010 feet above sea level is not the magic number after all.
It was just a theory I was throwing out there for discussion.
I'm moving on to other ridiculous thoughts.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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That sounds more like the sort of stuff rodents drag in. At least that far inside.
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Concentric ≈10' above grade, along with nest-looking fragments, not just brush. It was a surprise to me as well.
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If the intake is frosting up, you are getting recirculation of the exhaust into it.
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If the outside of his intake is frosting up, in the basement, he's getting recirculation of exhaust into it?
Can you please explain?
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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This is a problem with some of the combo exhaust kits where the exhaust is close to the intake or when the vent is between two houses very close together. Combustion exhaust from any high efficiency unit is very high in moisture so if it gets sucked into the intake, it will quickly condense and freeze.
Something to always watch as this condensate is highly corrosive so if it gets inside the unit and into the electronics, you are looking at an expensive repair bill.
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Ok
That's not the scenario my dad has. He has separate intake and exhaust and the frost builds up on the outside of the pipe inside the basement from the air inside the house. Not inside the pipe.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I've had my Lochinvar Knight for more than 17 years with a concentric vent/intake. Never had a problem with anything in the vent but things might be different where you are. I did add an intake filter several years ago to keep the bugs and dust out of the burner. Works great, also the vent runs inside of the 6 inch intake for about 12 feet or so and preheats the combustion air nicely. Like anything, annual maintenance is always a good idea.
Larry
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My intake is in the basement. I am curious about the exhaust. We have wasps, mud dobbers, well, this is North Carolina, we have every form of pestilance looking for a hole to nest in. I'll just spray the end with cy-kick cs.
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