We get strong winds and gusts that can come from 3 directions - the left, straight on, and the right.

1. Could this cold air blow back into the furnace between heating cycles, thermally shock the heat exchanger, and shorten it's life over time?

2. I've considered building a 3-sided box, open at the top and bottom to surround the vent pipes, preventing the wind from blowing directly on the vent elbows.

3. The furnace installation manual mentions wind gusts but offers no solutions to the problem.

I would appreciate knowing how to solve this problem.
Thanks very much, and Happy New Year!

 

Why all the concern? Are you having problems?

1. No, there will be no thermal shock issues.

2. Do not build an enclosure around your furnace flue discharge.

3. Because it is not an issue. It looks like you have a forced draft system. Your system needs a dedicated fan to force flue gasses out through the exhaust pipe.

 

Why is the one pipe black inside and appears to be sooted?

 

I am concerned because:
- the furnace is only 8 years old and the heat exchanger is rusted thru already,
- the winds can be 60 to 80 KMs/hour blowing directly on the vent elbow,
- yes, it is a forced draft system with an inducer blower

The black soot in the furnace vent elbow is either from the rusted heat exchanger disturbing the fuel/air ratio or the strong winds blowing directly on the vent elbow were affecting the combustion process ?????

 

You're asking if the winds can affect the heat exchanger and then you're saying it's rusted thru.
How is your tech/company addressing the problem ?

I've seen systems operate fine in heavy wind areas but it's different for every location.
I'm guessing by the sooting that you have propane and it's over firing.

 

How was the heat exchanger determined to be cracked?

 

If you heat exchanger is rusted it is VERY IMPORTANT to have it inspected. Cracks or holes in the heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide into the home so it is vitally important that it is in good condition.

 

1. The "sooted" vent elbow is the furnace exhaust
2. The other vent elbow is for the hot water heater
3. Both appliances use propane
4. Yes, the furnace has an "inducer" blower on the vent side
5. I assume the soot was either caused by the rusted-out heat exchanger OR by the 60 to 80 kilometer wind blowing directly into the vent elbow which disturbed the combustion process.
6. The leaking heat exchanger was diagnosed by visual inspection.
7. The CO level in the vent line was 7,000 PPM during the inspection
8. The heat exchanger has been replaced

Is there a way to keep blowing rain and snow from entering the vent pipes?
I can't turn the vent elbow to the left or the right because strong winds can come from all three directions.

Thanks VERY much for all of the comments and suggestions!