Results 1 to 11 of 11
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default It bears repeating...

    ...you can't make this stuff up.

    90+ year old row home, "rehabbed" in 2000.

    They put this gas fired furnace in the very small attic space. I could hardy get in there to look at it.
    The unit gets all its combustion air from the attic. Did they take this into consideration? OF COURSE NOT.
    That's bad enough. It gets worse.
    The beauty part is, there's a thermostatically controlled fan in the roof, which was running on account of it being so warm in the attic, so it was seriously de-pressurizing the #$$#ing attic!! I'm probably lucky I didn't pass out in there!!

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Crawl Space Creeper
    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  2. #2
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Sounds like there is not adequate eve and roof top/ridge vents for natural ventilation. I hate those roof top powered vents. One hole in the roof. The fan stops working and thats all you have to vent the entire attic. Anyway, with proper flow of air thru the attic keeping it vented then you would not have the situation you do. All newer homes around here have the units in the attic, electric or gas.

    Just doing a guesstimate on all homes I inspect I would have to say that 20 to 30% do not have enough attic ventilation. Throw a gas fired unit in there and then more problems arise. Water heaters in the attics in that situation have a tendency to pull air down the flue and in the case of pilot lights they get sucked out as well.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    2,048

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Looks like an older Janitrol. Is that one of Jerry's favorite sediment traps on top of the gas line there.

    www.aic-chicago.com
    773/844-4AIC
    "The Code is not a ceiling to reach but a floor to work up from"

  4. #4
    A.D. Miller's Avatar
    A.D. Miller Guest

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by Markus Keller View Post
    Looks like an older Janitrol. Is that one of Jerry's favorite sediment traps on top of the gas line there.
    MK: An anti-gravity sediment trap?


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Charlotte NC
    Posts
    2,304

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    John, is this a conditioned attic? The insulation above the furnace is what makes me question. What I normally see is exposed sheathing above the furnace. If it is a conditioned attic, why is there a fan in the roof that depressurizes the attic? If it is not, what is with the insulation/vapor barrier?


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Did you see signs of backdrafting? Just looking at the picture it does not look like the area is too small. If the home had soffit vents and the power vent, it is very possible that it has enough make-up air.

    If a thermostatically controlled attic vent fan is running in January in your area, we know that it a problem that needs to be addressed Was any of the ductwork leaking in the area?

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by Vern Heiler View Post
    John, is this a conditioned attic? The insulation above the furnace is what makes me question. What I normally see is exposed sheathing above the furnace. If it is a conditioned attic, why is there a fan in the roof that depressurizes the attic? If it is not, what is with the insulation/vapor barrier?
    One of the many problems with the house.

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Patterson View Post
    Did you see signs of backdrafting? Just looking at the picture it does not look like the area is too small. If the home had soffit vents and the power vent, it is very possible that it has enough make-up air.

    If a thermostatically controlled attic vent fan is running in January in your area, we know that it a problem that needs to be addressed Was any of the ductwork leaking in the area?
    It didn't have any vents at all. Just the attic fan blowing out. The wide angle lens probably makes the space look bigger. I could hardly turn around and had to crouch.

    No doubt some of the ducts were leaking. The B vent was too hot to touch.

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arnold View Post
    It didn't have any vents at all. Just the attic fan blowing out. The wide angle lens probably makes the space look bigger. I could hardly turn around and had to crouch.

    No doubt some of the ducts were leaking. The B vent was too hot to touch.
    Wow!!!

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arnold View Post
    It didn't have any vents at all. Just the attic fan blowing out. The wide angle lens probably makes the space look bigger. I could hardly turn around and had to crouch.

    No doubt some of the ducts were leaking. The B vent was too hot to touch.
    John, how did the B vent taste when you licked it?


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: It bears repeating...

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    John, how did the B vent taste when you licked it?
    I don't get it. Must be too early in the morning!

    However, I take back my statement that they didn't provide for any combustion air. The bath fan discharges into the attic! Now they just have to wire it up so it runs automatically when the furnace kicks on.

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •