Exterior chimney & liner

[icssales]

Does anyone have experience with Tranes or anyone elses "chimney freindly kit"? It is a kit you can use on a 80 percent furnace if you have a chimney on an outside wall of the house. They claim that you will not need to use a chimney liner becuse the kit will introduce fresh air at the termination on top of the furnace, like a hot water heater?
Have you vented an 80 percent furnace into a chimney on the out side of the house without a liner or kit. Our market area is NJ.

[t527ed]

years ago when 80% started coming out they went in outside chimney without liner, BIG mistake it can destroy a chimney. we pull liners into all outside chimneys now. if roof to high or steep call chimney co.

we are also in nj
no experience with blower kits


[Edited by t527ed on 04-26-2005 at 02:39 PM]

[BaldLoonie]

We only use them if the chimney can't be lined.

The vent kits don't let much house air in so in an outside chimney with cold exposure, you probably will have some condensation. Also, what air they let in the chimney is air you paid to heat. Effectively that makes the furnace less efficient - wasting heat just like the old natural draft furnaces.

[RoBoTeq]

I didn't think they were allowed to be used in certain circumstances, such as outside wall chimneys. Am I wrong?

[BaldLoonie]

Rheem doesn't approve them in areas with design below 5 degrees. Wouldn't even ship here.

[tinknocker service tech]

lenox has a kit for outside chimmey that works well
it looks like a little draft hood with a limit on it in case of back draft and it works well
not sure about tranes kit but you supplier should no all the detales on it

[icssales]

Thanks for your help, Any other info would be appreciated.

We are putting in a two stage furnace.

we beleive because the unit will be operating on the low stage first, it will "prime" or heat up the chimney for the full or second stage.

We are going to use the chimney friendly kit Trane provides. the chimney is not lined but I recommended to the HO that he has it done.

Thanks again...

[HVAC Pro]

Lennox's kit for the G50 and G60 can be used at -10° design temps EXCEPT for the 110 MBH input units which can be used only to +5°. The installation instructions are 8 pages long and must be followed explicitly. Why bother? I would just drag down a liner or recommend a 90+. I've never used the kit and don't intend to.

[tinknocker service tech]

have used them in two systems where a liner could not be pulled down because of the turn at the bottom
you right lot of dirrections and not hard to fallow at all they work well in these type of problems were you cant line the chimmey. i still line anytime i can and use the kit only as a last resort to do the correct job.
to install one just because it can be easer is not what i was saying. the cost factor between the lenox kit and a liner is so minor it isnt worth it not to do the liner
i think lining the chinney is the best way to go and the kit should only be offered if there is no other option

[docholiday]

Chimney adapters are nothing more than an a barely approved request from the field for a way to not line a chimney or install a 90+. There are strict guidlines for thier use but most of them are misused from what I can tell. I wouldnt install one, let alone on an outside chimney. An outside chimeny should have no trouble being lined even with an offset, a flexible liner shouold go. IF it cant for whatever reason and no alternate passage can be gained, then either a 90+ or a power venter should be used.

In the big cities in row houses they are probably most prevelent. These applications are generally rented homes where the landlord wouldnt pay to have it done correctly.

Just my humble opinion.

[rsmith46]

According to International mechanical code you can't vent into outside chimney anywhere north of Florida unless the furnace was at least 400,000 BTU. Even if its tile lined and met the 7 times rule you can't use one of those kits on an exterior chimney.

[beenthere]

Originally posted by icssales


We are putting in a two stage furnace.

we beleive because the unit will be operating on the low stage first, it will "prime" or heat up the chimney for the full or second stage.



Its on first stage that you'll have the most touble with condesation, when it gets below freezing.