Real Estate Forum

Zyp wrote:

> And, even though you "own" the building, you still need permits
> and inspection as required by law.

There are no inspections or permits required by any law for what I
did.

> Any modifications you've made, that changed the inherent design
> of the appliance

I made no modification to anything *inside* the furnace.  Attaching
flex lines to the *outside* of the unit's cabinet does not constitute
any design change to the system.  I have not restricted or modified
the design intent of the intake grillwork of the cabinet.

The grillwork of the cabinet was designed to allow air to enter the
furnace for combustion and draft purposes.  I have not modified that
functionality.

By ducting those intakes directly to the outdoors, I have actually
made the furnace safer by preventing the furnace from ever
experiencing a back-draft situation that might arise if there was ever
a negative-pressure situation inside the building.

> means the UL, AGA approvals are all void

UL and AGA approvals are only needed to SELL products at the retail or
maybe wholesale level.  Ongoing UL and/or AGA approval do not apply to
items owned by end-users.

A vendor is obligated to sell or install items to end users that have
UL and/or AGA approval.

An end user is not obligated to insure that those items continue to
maintain UL and/or AGA approval.

> I can't believe you've lowered the manifold pressure from a factory
> setting without changing the spuds.

The furnace's gas valve is variable and allows for a variable gas
output.

The long, slotted burners respond by generating smaller, slower
flames.  Perhaps inshot burners would not behave properly with reduced
pressure, but these burners do.

> I can't believe you expect the natural draft for the flue to
> overcome the resistance of the flex you installed to divert
> ouside air for dilution.

This furnace is a double-unit (joined side-by-side).  8 burners (4 in
each side).  Thermostat is 2-stage (the second set of burners doesn't
come on unless the thermostat thinks there is a need for it).  I have
4 round flex ducts (4" diam) going to the furnace cabinet.  One each
to the primary combustion air intake grills, and one each to the draft
hood intake.  All 4 intakes have been sealed with a combination of
riveted metal-work and aluminized duct tape.  The flex ducts are
(each) about 8 feet long.  They come from a large rectangular duct
(about 1 sq. ft. cross-section) that terminates at an exterior air
intake grill.

I think that the only time the second unit comes on is in the early
morning (7:30 am) when the thermostat set-point changes from 63f
night-time temp to 71f daytime temp.  So the flue draft is supplied by
two 4" lines even though only 1 unit is operating during the day.  The
flue pipes are about 6" diameter and rise straight up from each unit
for about 6 feet and then connect into a large horizontally-run flue
pipe (about 1 ft diam).  The large pipe runs about 10 feet before
entering the chimney.

> You are dangerous, and when someone dies because of your stupidity,
> I hope they catch you at it.

Please explain exactly how the setup as described is unsafe.

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