What is this

[mathew stouffer]

Came across these on an inspection today. They were in the upper area of the utility room.

Mat

[Jerry Peck]

Mat,

They look like remote mount exhaust fans.

I see what looks like a Type B gas vent in one of the photos (or was it just another one of these?). IF there is/are combustion appliances in that room, those things make suck a negative pressure and create combustion problems and venting problems.

[Matthew Barnicle]

First one is an exhaust fan, similar to those used in radon mitigation. The direction of flow appears to be directing air flow into the room which, I guess would make it an air supply vent. Can't speak for the black box in the 2nd photo.

[mathew stouffer]

Jerry,
There is a 150,000 gas boiler in there. I was unable to find a vent terminataion for the objects in question. Would would be the purpose of these? The white one has a fan but it would not respond.

[Ken Meyer]

It could be a dryer booster fan like this Fantech (http://www.fantech.net/dryer_boosting2.htm#1)

[Jerry Peck]

Ken,

They are the same ones who make the remote mount exhaust fan I was referring to ( Fantech: Bathroom (http://www.fantech.net/bathroom.htm) ), I believe others also make them. (scroll down to inline exhaust fan)

[John Arnold]

...I see what looks like a Type B gas vent in one of the photos (or was it just another one of these?). ..

I see single-wall. Where is the B-vent?

[Jerry Peck]

I see single-wall. Where is the B-vent?

John,

Sorry, single wall ... I'd already closed that photo down and was typing, then remembered seeing "something" in it, and, with exhaust fans like those, those combustion appliances could be being starved for combustion air when those fans are on.

Mat,

"Would would be the purpose of these?"

If exhaust fans, I'm sure someone had a reason, just did not think that reason out.

"The white one has a fan but it would not respond."

Which might actually be a good thing.

I'd write them up something to the effect of 'have HVAC contractor verify purpose and operation of 'exhaust' fans and consider their effect on the combustion air for the appliances in that space'. I see the high combustion air opening, but if that white one is an exhaust fan, its going to suck from that high opening directly to the exhaust fan.

Or, maybe those are exhaust fan operating on intake fans?

Have the HVAC company 'verify purpose and operation of' them.

[mathew stouffer]

Thanks for the info. The vents are for the theater room and projector. I had to ask the builder.

Mat

[Jerry Peck]

Thanks for the info. The vents are for the theater room and projector. I had to ask the builder.

Mat


Mat,

So those are *pressurizing* that space?

That's not good either.