Side termination for high efficiency furance

[personalt]

I am the gc for a rehab project where the hvac guy is using a lennox high efficiency furnace which has two 2" pvc excaust and combustion air pipes.

i am wondering what is the best way to terminate these pipes through the side wall of the building?

the hvac guy brought the pipes up to within a few feet of the rear wall which i was reframing at the time. the hvac guy which the owner hired is now MIA and the owner wants me to finish up the termination so we can get some inspections done

i am doing a stucco finish and the owner has asked that i dont just pull the pipe through the stucco as the termination area is highly visable(and i have one of the furnaces on each floor as it is a multifamily building).

i was going to a dryer vent trmination caps but but was wondering if there would be enough pressure to open the louvers?

since those are designed for 4 inch pipe, is there something better/smaller for 2" pipe? what about the intake side, i cant really use a dryer termination because the louvers would be sucked close?

[Jultzya]

I suggest that you get ahold of the installing HVAC contractor.

Because, what you are wanting to do is NOT safe, or up to code!

Ask yourself this question, would you want him to finish your drywall so he can hang his supply and return grills?

[docholiday]

If he's MIA, then hire another one to finish it.

[the ductmaster]

please call another contactor to finish up. blocking or creating any resistance in the flue will create a carbon monoxide hazard which could be fatal to the occupants.

[personalt]

there is a comment that said what i wanted to do was unsafe. not sure where that came from as all i mentioned was that i realize that a dryer vent cap would be no good. i certainly would not do that as of course the louvers will pull close on the suction side

all i was looking for was advice as to what the proper termination cap for this unit would be. i am looking for something that looks better then just having the pipe stick out the back of the house.

the owner is the process of getting another hvac guy but because no one wants to finish another guys work around here that is somewhat hard.

i was just looking to know if there was any termination caps that look a little nicer then the concentric termination cap so i can either install or make a suggestion to the owner so he can discuss such cap with the new hvac guy

[beenthere]

You sound more like a DIYer, then a GC.

Look in the install manual, that will tell you the aproved terminations you can use.

[t527ed]

lennox makes several termination kits. do NOT use anything but the proper style and size for that model furnace. they are not all the same!!!!

[Sun Dog]

I hear two different issues raised here: Safety and Making it look good to the homeowner. I guess the third is getting someone qualified on the site to complete the install.

On 2 or 3 90+ furnaces we've installed, the homeowner has requested we use a dryer vent cover for the termination.

I sell American Standard & they have a nice, compact, low profile termination that's designed to function properly. I'd bet other manufacturers would make similar terminations for their products.

Even given that, some people still wanted the dryer vent cover, I'm not sure why. It may be because it is something people are familiar with, or used to seeing sticking out of the exterior of a house. Or maybe they think that they can get one at Home Discount Mega Store for $XXX and have me install it. (From my recollection a factory made termination costs me roughly $XXX bucks.) Maybe they think I'm going to charge them $XXX for it or something. For $XXX, I'd rather have my family alive....but that's just my opinion.

Even if it functioned properly, which I'm pretty darn sure it wouldn't, to me, dryer vents are ugly and quite noticeable compared to a manufacturer supplied terminations. We bascially just said to the homeowner, no, it's not safe and it's not going to work, these are your options.

I realize that you are under pressure to complete. And your heat and air guy just disappeared...which makes it fun. As I understand it, did he sell you, or the homeowner the equipment, do this unfinished install, and leave you hanging? You might be able to get with the equipment manufacturer's wholesaler or representative locally or regionally (if it takes it nationally).

I think you indicated the equipment is Lennox. I really doubt they, or most other manufacturers, want someone like you've described selling their equipment. If you've tried reasonable means to get the guy to come back and he won't, they might light a fire under his butt to complete, or find someone else qualified to do it. I doubt they want their name attached to customer service that you seem to have gotten.

Good Luck To You!

http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys2/033102sor_1_prv.gif (No pricing, due to site rules (http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=1241) )

[Edited by jultzya on 11-14-2005 at 11:51 PM]

[johnsp]

Stay away from dryer vents! Many have flaps that would restrict intake or exhaust.

[beenthere]

scardi,

edit out your pricing.

[Black Adder]

Buy a coaxial vent termination, I don't give a rats ass what the owner or builder wants installed. If he wants to dick with it after completion then it is his ass on the line when someone dies. Do not I repeat DO NOT let homeowners or contractors dictate how you will install something if it is against code. If you wish to assume the liabilities that come with non-code items then fly at it.

[Jultzya]

Originally posted by Black Adder
Buy a coaxial vent termination, I don't give a rats ass what the owner or builder wants installed. If he wants to dick with it after completion then it is his ass on the line when someone dies. Do not I repeat DO NOT let homeowners or contractors dictate how you will install something if it is against code. If you wish to assume the liabilities that come with non-code items then fly at it.

Ditto...