Thread: Garage Filter Compartment Door

This shop-built filter compartment door is located above a downdraft furnace in the garage. There is no "dead-man" switch as I would expect to find on a furnace blower compartment door. As a result, the filter compartment door can be opened and the furnace will still operate. If left open, the furnace blower will pull air from the garage and circulate it throughout the interior of the house.

I understand that this is a REALLY BAD IDEA, but is it covered by the same requirement for a blower door switch or is it a loophole?

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

I understand that this is a REALLY BAD IDEA,

Gunnar,

I think it is just a REALLY BAD IDEA.

I see a bollard in front of the furnace, but not one in front of the water heater, yet it looks like that is a two car garage.

Where does that T&P discharge pipe drain to?

Can't tell if there is a sediment trap in the gas line or not, looks like there could be one? But if there is, it is before the shut offs and not after the shut offs.

Is that ductwork (both supply and return) at least 26 gage galvanized metal?

There should have been sufficient space between the evaporator coil nd the supply duct to allow for sealing, I know in Florida it requires at least 4" clearance for that.

The condenser unit does not look properly sealed to the platform/supply plenum (but that could just be the photo).

Is there a bollard in front of the washer and dryer? Supposed to be there too.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Gunnar,
I think it is just a REALLY BAD IDEA.

Well, that is a darned shame. I am still going to make correction recommendations.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

I see a bollard in front of the furnace, but not one in front of the water heater, yet it looks like that is a two car garage.

Actually, a 3 car garage. Only one bollard. I guess a car will not hit the water heater. Thanks for that, I wasn't paying attention.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Where does that T&P discharge pipe drain to?

Interestingly enough, it goes outside. Imagine that!

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Can't tell if there is a sediment trap in the gas line or not, looks like there could be one? But if there is, it is before the shut offs and not after the shut offs.

One shared sediment trap between the two valves. I rarely even see that. I would guess that sediment traps are not enforced in my area.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Is that ductwork (both supply and return) at least 26 gage galvanized metal?

It is galvanized metal. I pushed-on it and it did not flex appreciably, but was unable to verify 26 gauge.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

There should have been sufficient space between the evaporator coil and the supply duct to allow for sealing, I know in Florida it requires at least 4" clearance for that.

I am not familiar with that and would not know what to say. If it is humidity related, our RH is generally pretty low during the summer, so condensation is typically not a problem. Of course, with global warming, that may well change.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

The condenser unit does not look properly sealed to the platform/supply plenum (but that could just be the photo).

Not really sure what "properly sealed" is. No significant air leaks.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Is there a bollard in front of the washer and dryer? Supposed to be there too.

No. However, there is another laundry upstairs. This one is extra (?)

Jerry,

I don't understand why a bollard as in Gunnar's photo is of any real protection. If a car or trucks hits that with any real force, the vehicle could just wrap around the bollard and still hit the equipment.

I'm still looking to find one here in the Dallas area, but no luck as of yet.

rick

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

Jerry,

I don't understand why a bollard as in Gunnar's photo is of any real protection. If a car or trucks hits that with any real force, the vehicle could just wrap around the bollard and still hit the equipment. rick

Rick,

You're right, the bollard is a bit close to the furnace. However, at some point, you just have to say "good enough". Hopefully, the owner will not enter the garage at 65 mph.

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

I don't understand why a bollard as in Gunnar's photo is of any real protection. If a car or trucks hits that with any real force, the vehicle could just wrap around the bollard and still hit the equipment.

Rick,

If a car hits that with any real force, it will drive that equipment through that wall and push the wall in too. The bollard is not there to protect against a car launching off the drag strip starting line.

A proper bollard will, however, protect against a reasonable bump from a car which accidentally went the wrong way at slow speed.

Down in South Florida we had a neighbor who had a teenage daughter the same age as one of our daughters, she was in their car in their garage with the engine running and her dad was allowing her to back the car out ... except that she put it in drive and hit the gas a bit too hard ... ... and did exactly as I described above, pushing the wall part way into the kitchen, crushing the washer and dryer between the car and the wall.

Thats exactly what I'm talking about.
We need bigger bollards then. Maybe the size of a concrete pier below a home.

rick

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Interestingly enough, it goes outside. Imagine that!

Yeah, okay, but ... it's supposed to terminate inside the same space as the water heater - how new is the house?

One shared sediment trap between the two valves. I rarely even see that. I would guess that sediment traps are not enforced in my area.

Yeah, but enforced or not the sediment trap should be after the valve.

I am not familiar with that and would not know what to say. If it is humidity related, our RH is generally pretty low during the summer, so condensation is typically not a problem. Of course, with global warming, that may well change.

The space is there to allow the installers and service people to properly seal all the way around. You KNOW there was NO WAY that installer could seal anything at that area other than with plain blind luck.

No pan under the water heater either.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Yeah, okay, but ... it's supposed to terminate inside the same space as the water heater - how new is the house?

2004. I think exterior termination was required in CA at that time. Jerry Mc would probably know.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

No pan under the water heater either.

Believe it or not, I actually got that. Thanks.

You got that missing drain cover too I'm sure at the wall?

Nice feature to allow car exhaust fumes to be circulated through the house by placing furnace in garage - thoughtful!

GA: Though the TPR drain terminates at the exterior it appears to make more than 4 bends prior to the terminus - which is wrong.

If the entire garage floor is sloped from the wall behind the equipment to the door, all is well. If the equipment is sitting on a ledge of concrete which is level with the interior of the house, the water heater requires an auxiliary pan.

I also do not see any sheet metal screws connecting the water heater vent to the draft hood.

The primary condensate drain line is not protected from damage as it is on the vehicle side of the bollard.

Like everyone else, I agree that another bollard is required.

Builder smoking crack - again?

That's a standard media filter cabinet.

The manufacturer requires no safety on the door of that filter rack assembly.

If anything the equipment should have never been located in the garage.