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Vent to the outside

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CraigMI
CraigMI Member Posts: 2
in Radiant Heating


Hello.

I recently bought a house with steam heat. The boiler is in the basement. In the attached picture, you can see an insulated duct. At the top it is connected to a vent to the outside and it is open at the bottom. It's about 10 degrees here in Michigan, so cold air is pouring into my basement.

My question is, what is the purpose of this and can i cover it?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,286
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    It's probably there to bring combustion air into the boiler room. How bit is the boiler? How big is the space the boiler is in? And can the boiler draw combustion air from anywhere else in the house easily?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Canucker
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,676
    edited December 2017
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    The purpose of it is likely to bring combustion air to the boiler. Apparently your boiler room is too small and or too tight.

    Now the bad news is, it's hard to tell with the insulation in the way but that boiler looks like it may be piped poorly....
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
    CraigMI
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    It should be possible to put an automatic damper in that duct, with an interlock that won't let the burner start unless the damper is open. Kind of like a stack damper on an atmospheric gas boiler.

    That gives me an idea- wire up a standard stack damper to a fan center relay?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    CraigMI
  • AMservices
    AMservices Member Posts: 610
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    > @Steamhead said:
    > It should be possible to put an automatic damper in that duct, with an interlock that won't let the burner start unless the damper is open. Kind of like a stack damper on an atmospheric gas boiler.
    >
    > That gives me an idea- wire up a standard stack damper to a fan center relay?

    I did that.
    The damper motor has an end switch that completes the call for heat aftet damper opens.

    Just wanted to show @CraigMI an example
    CanuckerCraigMI
  • CraigMI
    CraigMI Member Posts: 2
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    Thanks everyone for your feedback. The room is very small, so I'm sure you all are right.

    A couple questions:

    1. Is it ok to insulate the room to prevent the cold air from cooling the basement?
    2. Could I temporary block the vent and leave the door open to the room?


  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,286
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    CraigMI said:

    Thanks everyone for your feedback. The room is very small, so I'm sure you all are right.

    A couple questions:

    1. Is it ok to insulate the room to prevent the cold air from cooling the basement?
    2. Could I temporary block the vent and leave the door open to the room?


    1. Yes
    2. Probably not a really good idea...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England

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