Robert Schenck
07-07-2007, 11:35 PM
I came across this on an 11 month inspection. The furnace exhaust flue was obviously pointed in an upward direction. I saw this on a few of the homes in the neighborhood. Not knowing or finding any type of code violation in the IRC 2003, I concluded (through use of common sense) this arrangement was just plain ole wrong.
Red arrow depicts current level of flue pipe, Yellow line depicts where it should be (according to me) and Blue arrows depicts where water can enter. The water heater flue pipe next to it (behind it in pic, hard to see, but there), had a 45 degree elbow on it. I told client I’ll write it up, but if builder says: “Hey, there’s noooo problem, it’s good to go”, I’d still put a 45 degree elbow on it (as the water heater has). This will prevent water from enter the pipe, and running down into the furnace, ….. He agreed and said it’s a good idea. Is it taboo to put an elbow on a furnace exhaust flue ?
Any comments or code references are greatly appreciated.
Red arrow depicts current level of flue pipe, Yellow line depicts where it should be (according to me) and Blue arrows depicts where water can enter. The water heater flue pipe next to it (behind it in pic, hard to see, but there), had a 45 degree elbow on it. I told client I’ll write it up, but if builder says: “Hey, there’s noooo problem, it’s good to go”, I’d still put a 45 degree elbow on it (as the water heater has). This will prevent water from enter the pipe, and running down into the furnace, ….. He agreed and said it’s a good idea. Is it taboo to put an elbow on a furnace exhaust flue ?
Any comments or code references are greatly appreciated.