What's Wrong with this Picture: Flue Pipe
ANSWER: Flue Pipe Improperly Installed
This flue pipe is pointing downward. It should be pointed upward; and it should be contained inside a chase (box frame), and terminate above the roof line for natural draft venting. (Hot air rises).
The Danger? The flue pipe is supposed to remove toxic gas (Carbon Monoxide) from the furnace and direct it to the outside of the home. But with the flue pipe pointing down like this, there is spillage (of carbon monoxide) at the draft hood on top of the boiler. Now take a look at the picture again. There are two tent-like vents on each side of the pipe where it comes through the exterior wall. These are combustion air inlet vents. They bring in outside makeup air (or sometimes called "combustion air") to aid in the combustion of the boiler and water heater without taking air from the inside of the home. As it is now, the vents will carry the toxic gas from the flue pipe back into the house. And we all know what happens when we take in too much carbon monoxide--Nighty-Night!!!
The fix? The flue pipe must terminate above the roof line, the exterior part of the flue pipe must be inside a box chase, and the flue pipe must have a flue cap on top. Inside the home, the horizontal run of pipe must be pitched upward from the appliance at the rate of 1/4 inch per running foot.
Finally, local codes generally state that all installations should be made in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations and the National fuel gas code.
