what's this vent for?

I have just purchased a 5 year old home. All brick, great windows and insulation. FAG heating. We're in the middle of a deep freeze...-35. The furnace runs almost constantly. The house is half the size of my last and the bill twice as much. See picture 1 see the round vent coming out of a heating pipe. Picture 2 shows a close up. Picture 3 shows a view along the heating pipe to an air return cabinet (this cabinet is attached to the main air return behind the furnace). Picture 4 (looking up to the ceiling)...the pipe is attached to the box to the right of the large return, the number is on the large return. See also in 4 the insulated exterior air return (I might add that when I peeled back the insulation it was full of ice) When feeling the large return above the number 4 it's ice cold, below, it's warm.

I have sealed along gaps in all returns. Removed the humidifier. Replaced the filter. Checked for other leaks. This has me stumped? There's no motor visible and I don't believe it to be a high efficiency furnace....ideas?

John

 

I do not see any pictures since this web sight don't allow pic. :-(

If you want, please e-mail it to me.. jaymarking@charter.net

 

No pictures came up. It soubds like you have a make up air from out side. If so Id close the D** thing off. it will sure save you on the fuel bill if it is that. Also turn the humidifier back on . ED

 

You were 4000 words (4 pictures) short of what you were trying to tell us. If you can find a way to make them available to us, we could offer more suggestions. I think Ed is on the right track with the makeup air idea. I would not advise heating -35 degree air up to house temp or it will cost you a fortune.

 

thanks to everyone that replied...I thought this site supported pictures....there's a place for attachments....

 

I got your pix, Thanks..

Here is the link for it guys.

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/13242_vent.jpg

It almost looks like it's some type of air to air exchanger?

I would not plug the pipes on it if it is an air to air exchanger. Can you take some more pix of that box?

LOok for a switch or some type of stat wired to that, you may just be able to turn it off..


I agree with Ed about the humidifier, put it back on the system..

 

where does that duct run from and to? i am confused. what is make/model of furnace? ice buildup on duct? not good, must be outdoor intake? as ed said not good. give us more to work on.........

 

At -35 anyone has to be nuts to try and take out side air. like Ken said it has got to cost you a fortune. Close it off now for sure. Also any hvac guy that put a pipe in like that shoot him now before he does another job like that. Come off a duct and do a 180o in a heat pipe+ other Ls I dont know about him ED

 

Guys, don't be jumping the gun yet!!

I think we have some type of air to air exchanger...

Just don't have a good view of that "box"...

 

They just dont work at all .Been there and done that. Oh they sure sound good when the sales man makes his pitch. ED

 

you guys are the best!...I'll take some more shots...I was told that with a high efficiency furnace (and house) air from outside was necessary, the place being so sealed, a motor would drive the air in....there isn't one, but the furnace is sucking air through that pipe from the outside...pissed and determined to stop the furnace from constantly running as mentioned, I disconnected everything, plugged the outside holes...sigh...it's still going....maybe it's something else?

I was told my many people including the house inspector to lose the humidifier...thanks so much for all your help....beers on me.

 

Hey, it's -35 out!!! (Where are you from? the NE?)


And yes, your gas bill is going to be high. Was it this cold out at your old home? If no, then that's expains why your gas bill is higher at this home cuz its -35 out.

Your furnace is going to run and run and run, and if it runs non-stop and holds temp, then you have a right sized system on the coldest days.

Many people got the ideal that the furnace still should cycle on and off on the colest day. and the cycle on and off is hard on the system. and be like going to the stop and go lights w/ your car.. Do you get good gas mileage that way? No.. Going on the highway with the cruse on, and do you get good gas milage? Yes.


You need to have make up air lost that is gone up the chimmy, with newer homes, they are tight. If you don't have air to air exchanger, (Waiting for more pix) then just take the pipe off, put it in a box next to your gas furnace and water heater.

Did the people say why you should get rid of the humidifier?

I'll pass on the Beer since I don't drink.. But, I'll settle on Coke! :-)

 

Ok, some more pix here..

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/13299_vent2.jpg


http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...urnace_001.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...urnace_002.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...rnace2_001.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...rnace2_002.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...rnace2_003.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...rnace2_004.jpg

http://ww2.imagewiz.net/images/hvac/...rnace2_008.jpg

 

Ok, I manage to get the pix to blow up a bit bigger.


It looks like it is a homemade "mixing" box. (never seen such thing before).

The silver pipe (Semi-ridge) is warm air being blown into the box from the supply duct.

The black flex is outside air sucking in "as needed"

The boot on top of the return duct is the air being sucked from the "mixing" box.

So I think what they are trying to do is temper the cold winter air before it all get sucked into the system. And also it going to bring air into the house as needed (If equal volume of air supply and return) that is lost gong up the flue pipe, and kitchen/bath exhaust.

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Some suggestion.

Remove the flex from the "box" (you already done, then move it by your furnace and water heater.

Bring it down to the floor into a box that just about 2 -3" bigger around the pipe that you put into it, and about 24" high.

The box will help "tame" the flooding of cold air onto the basement floor.

Buy 2 caps and cap off the supply feeder and return, and remove the mixing box.

~~~~

You are going to need get some air into the home to make up what's lost up the flue pipe.

If you plug that black flex, you are going to start induceing cold air in your windows, doors, outlets, light fixtures, then your are going to feel cool and drafty.

I would personaly, honestly leave it alone. Unless you want cold basement floors?

The set up is going to onlly allow fresh air in as needed, and it's tempering it so it's not a hard load on the system.

 

As I said before just looking at the pictures there. Just the number of elbows he has on the vent pipe tells you he should go back to school and learn a thing are two before he does another job. Id close off that cold air pipe from out side right now and be done with it. From The size of the room there I dont see where you need make up air from out side. If you did a 4"would be enough. Like jay did say turn the humidifier back on for sure. And yes the furnace should run and run at -35 out side. Dont know where you are , we only go for a furnace with 70o at -10o outside. So at - 10o it should run all the time.

There are many brands of mixing boxes out there for sale to temper the air comeing in with the warm air as it goes out. but if you look its just a lot of snake oil and you end up paying for it.

What we do find that works is the power saver dampers that we use in the commercial where we take out side air to pressures the building and take care of the body load. Dont think you need this in a home.
ED