intro and HVAC ?

[DanC]

Been lurking here alittle while and decided to register, lots of cool info.
I'm Dan and live in MT. I teach jr. high American History, shop, and am a wildland firefighter in the summer. I enjoy doing home improvement with my wife and two kids and enjoy building cars and motorcycles so my garage sees pleny of mechanical and carpentry type work.

My question, I just acquired a rafter mount furnace. I cant find any of the uni-strut stuff around, couldnt I just use like a piece of 2"x2" heavy wall tube and drill a couple of holes for the all thread to go through??
Secondly, the furnace has a few small holes in the heat exchanger, the contractor I got it from said it would work just fine for a shop. Can I patch those holes with hi-temp silicone or JB Weld or something like that or Can I just leave them alone?? The only thing "escaping" from the holes would be heat, right???

thanks

[danski0224]

Unistrut is a brand name, and places like Home Depot and others sell similar knockoffs. Yes, tubing and a drill bit will work, but it looks kinda hackish.

Holes in a heat exchanger will make you a prime candidate for a Darwin Award.

Yes, heat comes out of them. So does carbon monoxide. CO can kill you, even in a shop environment. If your shop is attached to the home, CO will go there, too.

A nice, new unit heater is only a few hundred bucks.

Don't be stupid.

[MXtras]

Howdy again!

Your method to secure the unit to the rafters sounds good - you don't have to use that uni-strut - the contractors love it because it has holes and they don't have to drill.

As far as the heat exchanger? Holes are usually a no-no (assuming it is a gas fired unit). You should probably try to patch them up somehow if you can. Whatever you use needs to be able to survive some pretty intense heat. The issue has to do with the escape of the spent fuel fumes and Carbon Monoxide and all of the nasties combustion produces. Of course, with this being a shop it may not be an issue, but since Carbon Monoxide has no odor, it can knock you out before you even know there's a problem. If you are going to use it as-is, get a detector.

Just be careful. Carbon Monoxide doesn't play around.

Scott

[DanC]

the shop is not attached to the house but I certainly dont want any carbon monoxide. I think it is the heat exchanger, they are vertical rectangular shaped objects?? the unit has a vent that goes outside, is that to supply fresh air from the outside for combustion?? I really want use this if its safe, even a couple hundres bucks is out of the question right now. thanks-

[danski0224]

Uhhh-

Carbon monoxide is not safe. Retail level detectors are not foolproof, and they must be warm to work right in the first place.

I would not patch or use that heater you have. It is deadly.

If you do use it, make sure that your will is up to date and the life insurance policy is paid up.

[DanC]

Ok sounds like the unit from the rafters is out, I would like to use it but I didnt know carbon monoxide would leak from those hole, sounds too dangerous (inferring that someone who is trying to learn something is stupid or a candiate for the Darwin award is a little harsh :) ). The holes are rusted trhough at the top of the heat exchanger (if it even is the heat exchanger I am looking at??) What would cause it rust through up there, does moisture condense at the top of these things??
I dont think I want to use the barrel stove that I have because it takes up so much room I dont really want the hot / cold cycling.
I do have a GFA unit that came out of a house that I am pretty sure is in useable shape, I will need some assistance though to install it. I would probably just have it blow out one big vent rather than run ducts throughout the shop??
Or how about this, http://www.mrheater.com/upload/newsletter/18672_%20MH25NG_LP.pdf , anyone use these or something similar??
Thanks for the help

[G1K]

DanC, post some pictures or the heater your talking about ,and where the holes are.

Ryan

[DanC]

I'll take some pics and try and get them up, maybe the situation isn't as bad or I think??? (probably worse...:) )