this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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Home Improvement

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[–] Hazdaz 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm not an HVAC guy but you can use PVC pipe in this situation??? That doesn't seem right.

[–] Bigtiddygothgrany 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's a high efficiency system. That's what they call for. Instead of venting into the chimney they go directly outside, one is for intake of fresh air and the other is for exhaust.

[–] Hazdaz 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I would have figured the exhaust would be hot enough to melt the plastic. My understanding was that you have to have metal for the first X feet because that's what would be where it's hottest.

But what do I know? If they say you can use plastic from the beginning then have at it. It's cheaper and easier.

[–] Bigtiddygothgrany 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

High efficiency systems run a lot different. The exhaust doesn't get even remotely hot enough to melt them. Similar, there are gas fired water heaters that exhaust through PVC as well. Newer houses don't even have a metal B-vents/chimneys anymore since everything just vents out the side of the house on their own.

[–] Hazdaz 0 points 2 years ago

I have a tankless which is supposed to be super efficient but I don't remember what it's exhaust piping is. I know the stuff coming out of the house is plastic as well, but I don't recall what the piping coming out of the unit is.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Nice work! Is there a reason for not connecting the exhaust back to the chimney like before?

[–] Death_Equity 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The new one is a high efficiency unit. So you don't exhaust those through a chimney with duct, because they aren't that hot, and they need an intake.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Ah okay, that makes sense.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That unistrut is overkill lol I like it

[–] Bigtiddygothgrany 3 points 2 years ago

Haha thanks, it was the best way I could find to support the PVC, otherwise it would've been kind of a long run

[–] Brujones 2 points 2 years ago

Nice work! I'm not an HVAC guy but it looks good to me.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)