Vent on HE furnace letting critters in

[BusyB]

I have a new HE furnace with a concentric PVC vent on the side of my house. I am concerned about birds, chipmunks, squirrels, bees, etc. getting into it and clogging it. I have had problems with things like a squirrel getting stuck inside my water heater vent after coming down the chimney, squirrels destroying tubular plastic bird feeders, bees building hives in mailboxes and attic vents, birds coming down the chimney and into the basement, rodents getting into car parts under the hood, etc., and have heard of children putting objects such as golf balls into them. The present vent is directly under a bedroom window, about 30 inches below and 2 feet above the ground--it would seem this might let carbon monoxide be drawn into the house if the window is cracked open to provide outside air. Thanks.

[heaterman]

If it's directly under a window, it's not vented properly. As far as critter protection. talk to your HVAC contractor when he comes out to move the vent. Went out this morning 10 degrees and de-iced 2 intakes that customers put screen over.