Concentric vent intake height - Max snow depth for roof?

[RABRods]

I am working out the venting situation for my Beacon Morris 45K. I am planning the vertical concentric vent kit. In the manual it states air intake to be 2ft above roof penetration, PLUS the maximum snow depth. Where would I find the maximum snow depth, (I live in southeastern MI) I have looked at the historical average and found one or two sites online stating around 35" for average snowfall for my area. Is that the same as snow depth...it may snow 35" but that may be over 5 months and the depth may only be a few inches at a time right? this would make the intake height alone 5 ft high and then another 1ft for the exhaust.

I am not sure what to do, any suggestions or opinions? Maybe this requirement is so high because it is intake not hot exhaust so it need to be so high...either way what depth number should I use?

I have been looking at other furnace vents/chimeys ect while driving around lately most seem very short, and alot do not even seem to meet the 2ft above anything within 10ft requirement.

 

[samert111]

I suppose it would depend on what your roof configuration is. For example if your roof peak runs North/South and your vent is on the East side of your peak then the prevailing Westerly winds we see here in Mi. can pile up snow more on that side of the roof. Think snow drift, it's always deeper on the East side of the wind obstruction. If your roof line runs East/West then the prevailing winds will pretty much keep the snow depth low on the roof overall.

The height if the fresh air intake is a minimum 2ft above the expected snow depth. You could just extend it up to within 12" of your vent cap. It's more pipe than you really need but it wouldn't hurt anything and would certainly clear any amount of snow that could build up.

Have you considered going horizontal instead? Much easier to install, no holes in the roof to leak, don't need to worry about snow depth or min clearance's above anything within 10 ft and probably would be much less $$ in venting material unless your heater is mounted in the center of the room.

 

[RABRods]

I have considered the horizontal, it would be significanlty cheaper that is for sure, yet, I would still have to meet the 10ft requirement as my kitchen extends out, so i need to be 10 feet from there and then 3ft below my soffit per the manual, with the somewhat low ceiling I have the vent would now be something you would stare at everytime you look out the kitchen window, and only 6 feet off the ground...which to me seems like it may be a hazard...

 

[RABRods]

Bttt