New guy with a question about venting a Big Maxx heater

[JAckal]

Hello,
I am new here, and this seems like to place to get an answer. Whenever I search google it directs me to this site.

I have ordered a Big Maxx 75k propane heater for my machine shop. My idea on venting it is to go over about 5 ft horizontal (with the correct 1/4" per ft. up & out slope), through the wall and then go vertical about 3 foot.

Does this sound ok? I have already downloaded the instructions and can't find anything confirming this as ok.

The horizontal kit was ordered and here is a pic that I modified to describe what I have in mind.

Let ms know your opinions and maybe show me some of your installations.










Thanks in advance,


JAckal

 

[D KRAGER]

Should work fine, that's how I did mine and I don't have forced exhuast. You are suppost to go above the roof so far, but I can't remember the specs on that. I'm sure someone will chime in with that.

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

I just finished installing that exact heater, I opted for the horizontal venting since I didn't want to cut a hole in the roof. This also allows me to keep the end out of the fierce north wind here in Wisconsin. Now I just need to get the propane guy to come plumb it to the 500 gal LP tank I have for the house. Here are some pictures.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ksm4naws_ak/SskuPnJ-f_I/AAAAAAAAKTI/dbzij6SbUN0/s800/BCMOTOPIC168.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ksm4naws_ak/SskuQx-5GWI/AAAAAAAAKTU/Cbfw4CdT_sA/s800/BCMOTOPIC171.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ksm4naws_ak/SskuRanq46I/AAAAAAAAKTc/IISCCXsPFJI/s800/BCMOTOPIC173.jpg

 

[tcianci]

I know that the code here when I built was to have the top of the flue 2 feet higher than anything within a 10 foot radius of the flue. Your mileage may differ. One of the things that I learned while touring Colonial Williamsburg years ago was that stoves were often vented out of the building many feet from where the stove actually sat. This was done as sort of a passive heat reclaiming scheme. Since, unlike today, the temperatures of the exhaust of the stove or heater were quite high, you could take advantage of that by getting some of the heat back off the hot stovepipe. I see from your diagram that you unit appears to be a condensing type with probably a very low stack temperature but in any case running the flue through the building will claim some of the waste heat back.

 

[JAckal]

Wow!! Thanks for the quick replies.

I may just go straight out the way "CorporateOffRoader" did his. I couldn't find an actual picture anywhere of one. Just the drawn diagrams.

The vent kit that I ordered has 2 pieces of single wall vent pipe and 1 double wall. My guess is the double wall ( B-type???) goes through the thimble in the wall and the other 2 pieces are inside where the heat can be re-claimed?

I appreciate all info and suggestions. If mine turns out half as good as some of the installations on here it will make me happy.

Earlier today my wife and I spent a few hours "just looking" at the fantastic garages & shops.

Maybe I'll put a pic of mine after it is put up. LOL

Thanks a lot,

JAckal

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

I skipped the vent kit, I thought the $99 was a bit steep. I think all in I have about 1/2 of that with the parts I bought from Menards. I used "B" pipe for the entire run. I have an 18" and a 3' piece, a 45 degree angle and a rain cap. The thimble I purchased from the hardware store, but since the walls of my shop are 10" thick (6" pole, 1.5" stringers inside and out plus the steel counting the ribs) I had to extend the thimble. It would only extend to 7" or so and I had to add a 6" piece of galvanized steel banding to it. I pop riveted it on one side and then slide them together sandwiching the wall. The I filled all the gaps with expanding foam and siliconed the ends to keep as much of the cold air out. Good luck on your install, take pictures as it always helps someone when you post them.

 

[JAckal]

Will Do.




JAckal

 

[fatboy99]

The installation manaul for the heater i installed said to slightly run the vent pipe down hill to prevent condisation from running in that's what i did and havnt had any problem i had to put a longer vent pipe on. During the realy cold day's the steam would rise out of the vent and condense under the soffit and form ice cycles. I used double wall from the exaust all the way out was just a 36" piece

 

[JAckal]

Thanks Fb99,

I wondered about moisture/rain running back down in the heater and rusting it out. They show a drip line (drain loop) in the picture I inserted.


Well,

My heater came in today, and UPS destroyed it.

Here are a few pictures:














I contacted Northern and we'll see what they do. It was dropped so hard that is sheared off the bolts on the side panel. There is a large dent in lower front of the grill.

Even if they knocked off some of the price I wouldn't want it. There's no telling if the abusive handling damaged the circuit board or the gas regulators, etc.

I want another one.
I'll keep you posted,

JAckal

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

My box was in worse shape, but my heater fared better than yours. I had one little dent, but pounded it out with a small ball peen hammer. I think the problem is the heater is just 2 lbs under the max that UPS will allow them to ship. It isn't very well packed in the box either with only the foam end caps. It will be interesting to see what Northern does for you, as beat up as it is, I would want a new one also. I have been to their outlet store in Hudson, WI. By the looks of what is in that store, lots of things get wacked in shipping.

 

[JohnK007]

I want another one.
I'll keep you posted,

JAckal

I don't blame you. i would insist on it too!!

 

[Shocker]

Is it just me, or doesn't the installation manual show a slight upward run to the horizontal exhaust?

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

It does, but I thought that was ridiculous and installed mine horizontal with a 1/4" per foot drop.

 

[fatboy99]

My horizontal pipe has slightly less drop then your's and im on my 5th heating season and no problem's

 

[Shocker]

Touche'! Thanks for the info. I was also thinking it seemed stupid to have it run upward with the chance of condensation to run back to the unit. It showed 2 different installs, one with a drip leg and the residential version the same without the drip.

I will do mine the way you guys did!

 

[logical]

If you are going straight out a side wall with just and endcap, you slope down away from the heater and it can drip out the outside end. If you are going vertical either inside (and out the roof) or outside (turning up after a wall penetration), you slope down toward the heater.....otherwise you are just puddling at the 90 degree elbow.

More simply...straight pipe-slope away from heater, 90 up pipe (inside or outside turn)- slope to heater.

I went out the wall and just capped...that only works easily with a tall building because the vent has to be so far below any overhang (or way out past it).

 

[JAckal]

That's what I thought I would do. Slope it down so that the moisture runs outside. It's a fan forced exhaust so a little down slope won't hurt.

Then end cap they sent will allow rain/snow to blow in and run to the heater if it is sloped down toward the heater.

I'll keep you posted.




JAckal

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

Finally got my propane plumbed yesterday, hit the thermostat and it lit right up! Works great, although now I need to install the other 2 ceiling fans to push all that expensive heat down from up high.

 

[JAckal]

I finally got my replacement heater from Northern today. It has a few scratches that have touch-up paint on it???

Maybe they sell 2nd's or factory refurbished and don't tell in their ads???

As long as it works I don't care. It's in my shop, so it will get dirty eventually.

This weekend it will be put up and plumbed. Next Friday the propane company is coming out with my 500 gal. tank.

I'll get some pics. It won't be as nice as what some of you guys are putting up.


JAckal

 

[FlameOut]

I finally got my replacement heater from Northern today. It has a few scratches that have touch-up paint on it???

Maybe they sell 2nd's or factory refurbished and don't tell in their ads???

As long as it works I don't care. It's in my shop, so it will get dirty eventually.

This weekend it will be put up and plumbed. Next Friday the propane company is coming out with my 500 gal. tank.

I'll get some pics. It won't be as nice as what some of you guys are putting up.


JAckal

I received my heater today also. Just one minor dent that I was able to repair. When it's hanging up I doubt anyone will notice. I'm hoping to hang it tomorrow when I can get some help, but I'm still trying to find a plumber to run a gas line from my house to garage (about 10') so it may be a while till I can fire it up. I'll post some pics when I get 'er mounted

 

[sixt8 berd]

I bought the Big Maxx 75k natural gas heater and am getting ready to install.

I want to vent horizontally but realized the directions say to stay 4 feet from doors and windows but I wanted to stick it between a door and a window that is only 6 feet apart.

What do you guys think? Should I just have the vent run out until I am 4 ft from the door and window? I think it would look funny sticking it out that far (it is going in an attached garage)

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

The heater is working great, the 3 ceiling fans are up and do a great job pushing the heat down from the ceiling. Just one issue so far, the fan controller was only good for 2 fans, melted when I added the 3rd to the string. I have ordered an Envirofan 105F, says it is solid state and good for a 6 amp draw. It is getting colder here in Wisconsin now, so I have to get the attic insulated. I will be blowing in the insulation to R38 a week from Saturday. Then I won't have to worry about leaving the heater on, did it accidentally the other night and burned 15 gallons of propane!! Right out the roof, live and learn.

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

Update on my Mr. Heater installation: After 2 months of winter here in WI I have noticed little affect on my propane usage in total. I have been keeping the shop at 38 unless I am in there, then I bump it up to 50. Takes about 40 minutes to warm the shop up, but it is 40 x 63 with a 14' ceiling. The heater is working great and the fans are keeping the heat from accumulating at the ceiling. How is your installation doing?

 

[MoreDrums]

Christmas present this year...Mr Heater 45k BTU NG. Waiting to arrive at Lowes. This board looks like just the place. Hoping this will heat my 3-car attached and enable some winter projects on my son's Jeep; and maybe provide some residual warmth to bedrooms above the garages in the Chicago winters.

Here's my question for you all...I'm wondering if there's benefit to locating above the garage doors, perhaps above the double, kinda cetered on the whole space. This versus being in the "back" of the garage and probably in the corner. I have high ceilings, insulated and drywalled. Thinking about running the vent to the side, (two-story outside wall with no overhangs) with horizontal cap so not too ugly on the outside.

Looking for ideas, pictures...and landmines before I get started next week.

MD

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

MoreDrums,

I mounted mine at a 45 degree angle in the corner of the shop and vented horizontally out the side of the shed. I posted some pictures earlier in this thread.

Worked great for me.

 

[MoreDrums]

Thanks Corp,

The pics help though no image of the bracketing. I'm thinking spanning the ceiling joists with perforated angle steel with lag bolts into the joists...another angle piece bolted to the first to for a ] shape. Then bolt the heater brackets to the bottom. used a similar concept for mounting my air hose and electric reels that couldn't span the joists with their stock mounts.

Did you just take a 3" hole saw to your wall? Figure I'll drill center pilot hole and then go half way from each side...siding and all. Did you use the expanding foam on the outside as well? Is there a high-heat foam or just the basic "Great Stuff"?

Thanks again for the reply.

MD

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

MoreDrums,

I spanned the joists in the ceiling with 2X4's that I mounted angle iron to. The hung threaded rod down through the ceiling and with the help of my son, hung the heater from the rod.

I used a level to mark the center point of the flue (allowing for the 1/4" per foot drop). I then used a 2" hole saw so I could get my air shear going. After cutting the hole on the inside, I just eye-balled the hole for the outside and did the same out there. However, there was 1/4 of a 2x4 I had to sawzall out (my luck).

The expanding foam is the regular stuff at the hardware store, the silicone is the hi-temp stuff.

Good luck and post some pictures.

 

[dlewis]

MoreDrums,

I mounted mine at a 45 degree angle in the corner of the shop and vented horizontally out the side of the shed. I posted some pictures earlier in this thread.

Worked great for me.

Looking at your picture you have two double wall pipes inside,should be a single wall coming off heater to double wall thru your side wall,if not could you could be letting fumes in.

 

[2NDXRND]

Is it just me, or doesn't the installation manual show a slight upward run to the horizontal exhaust?

They do show an incline in the venting.......cuz heated exhaust rises.
I have the 65K Big Maxx in my garage. Great unit. I just vented it horizontal and made sure I cleared the soffit. No problems.