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Drift Issues

Options
rdege
rdege Member Posts: 1
in Gas Heating

Looking for some ideas/advise. I bought a house 3 years ago. Each winter, we get snow drifts that clog the HVAC intake vent as well as the generator intake. My goal is to decrease the frequency of the drifts so that I don't have to clean the affected areas as often.

Option 1 - Remove a slat from the fence, and reposition the remaining slats so that the wind will pass through the fence (see Fix_1 pic). Not visually appealing, but has potential unless the snow fills in the gaps.

Option 2 - Stretch burlap between 2 poles to partially block the wind. The poles would be positioned in front of the AC unit.

Other ideas as appreciated, although low cost solutions are preferred :)

Thank you

-Robert

AffectedArea_1.jpg
AffectedArea_2.jpg
Drift_1.jpg
Drift_2.jpg
Fix_1.jpg

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,874

    That's a tough one.

    My only thought would be to put a fence that matches the fence you have to "box in" the generator, electric meter and intake and exhaust pipes. A "L" shaped fence with a gate.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,454

    raise the pipes

    PC7060
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,454
    edited August 28

    what is this?

    the horse shoe pipes in the corner

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,704

    So long as that fence is there, you are going to have snow accumulating. A drift will form in front of a fence as well as in back of it, and — depending on exact wind direction — the house wall will also create drifting. The drifting in the pictures looks more like wind hitting the house

    The fix won't.

    Is there a continuation of that fence in back of the photographer? If not, you might get away with removing the panel of fence next to the house completely.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,628

    Correctly locating snow fence is always a crap shoot.

    I have tried it 25' away from my exposed driveway and then another 25' north of that. And if really ambitious then a third fence 25' north of the second one.

    Snow fence is 50' X 4' tall. Wood lath with wire supports. We just call it snow fence regardless of it's use.

    On the exact north side of the house, where the exhausts are, there is a 4-5' drift about 8' north of the house and the ground is clear along the house.

    What happens for you if there is no fence??

    PC7060

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