Is this acceptable ? Horizontal vent pic attached.

[SyixString]

Its a Mr heater big Maxx 50k btu natural gas unit .... didn't have to have a permit or anything or inspections for that matter but is this type of venting ok or am I going to be screwed later on ?? It's category 3 vent just has the 90s at the take off - Im also going to add storm collars and what not and make it look a bit nicer but this is just the rough in right now. Thanks for your time folks!

 

[Showkey]

Generally speaking the pipe to wall thimble clearance is usually less than a 1/4” and sealed with high temp silicone. This came up in recent prior post where the wall thimble was B vent thimble. B vent thimble hole is larger than the Cat III thimble.

Can’t answer the permit question…….depends on location.

 

[SyixString]

Generally speaking the pipe to wall thimble clearance is usually less than a 1/4” and sealed with high temp silicone. This came up in recent prior post where the wall thimble was B vent thimble. B vent thimble hole is larger than the Cat III thimble.

Can’t answer the permit question…….depends on location.

My biggest question being the 90 to 90 starting off , it not being the gradual 1/4 inch rise per foot, curious if that is going to cause me efficiency issues or will I be just fine ?

 

[Showkey]

That slope increase is a minimum spec as per this instruction sheet………so think your ok. Check your instructions to be sure.

 

[PoorUB]

It should be fine, but I would replace the lower elbow with a tee with a drip leg pointed down to keep any condensation away from the heater.

 

[SyixString]

It should be fine, but I would replace the lower elbow with a tee with a drip leg pointed down to keep any condensation away from the heater.

ahhh **** - if i added that im going to have to figure out all my piping over again to get that thimble... those flu gases aren't hot enough and there isn't enough rise to keep condensation out of there you think ?

 

[SyixString]

i guess im wondering since i have that steep rise from the 90s - if i was to put the rest of the piping - the horizontal piping at a slight slope... would that keep condensate out and still let the hot flu gases rise (because of the 90 degree angle pipes?) sorry if that is confusing... this heater is going to be the death of me.

 

[PoorUB]

The flue will condesate for a few seconds everytime it starts. It will condense until the pipe gets hot. It might take 15-30 seconds. You can slope the rest of the flue down and out slightly, it will still condense in the elbows.

 

[rancherbill]

.... didn't have to have a permit or anything or inspections for that matter but is this type of venting ok or am I going to be screwed later on ??

Is Death considered getting screwed. With gas you find out BEFORE you do an install. You are not some kind of tough hero because you won't get an inspection.

 

[SyixString]

Is Death considered getting screwed. With gas you find out BEFORE you do an install. You are not some kind of tough hero because you won't get an inspection.

oh dang, wasn't trying to be offensive or seem arrogant of anything... was just wondering about this because my friend who works for a small plumbing company helped me put this in and im starting to feel kind of uneasy about it (with good reason i guess). Im going to be putting a Smoke/CO monitor in the garage incase and may consider getting an inspection - i guess i figured with the proper help and resources i could tackle this project. It has been a uphill battle and im grateful and appreciative of all the advice ive gotten on here so far. Not trying to cause trouble.

 

[PoorUB]

Is Death considered getting screwed. With gas you find out BEFORE you do an install. You are not some kind of tough hero because you won't get an inspection.

Lighten up on the inspection deal. Many areas there isn't anyone there to do an inspection. Where I live only the larger cities have any inspections.

On a modern heater as long as the flue doesn't leak it will not dump CO into the building.

 

[Showkey]

On purpose: Mine is tipped just slightly down to the outside…….in sub zero weather a 5-6’ tall ice stalagmite will form on the ground from the dripping. My thought the water condensation is better and more easily handled out side vs inside.

As a side bar note: My radon vent on my home does the same thing

 

[TractorJeff]

I'm with Showkey, mine tips/slopes down going out!

 

[SyixString]

Thanks folks! ! this place has some awesome people! im up in Upper Michigan (Yooper) so it does get cold and im sure there will be condensate so im going to try and put a little bit a slope on it... there is right now so when i fix the gap between the thimble and pipe i hope i can keep it sloped slightly.

 

[rancherbill]

Lighten up on the inspection deal. Many areas there isn't anyone there to do an inspection. Where I live only the larger cities have any inspections.

On a modern heater as long as the flue doesn't leak it will not dump CO into the building.

What!!! That's absolute nonsense.

Please list the areas, be specific, along with letters from the building department that states that inspections ARE NOT REQUIRED.

Your post was DANGEROUS INFORMATION.

 

[rancherbill]

It has been a uphill battle and im grateful and appreciative of all the advice ive gotten on here so far. Not trying to cause trouble.

Some of the advice on Garage Journal is dangerous.

Inspections are important.

Here's todays news. "Professional" tradesmen made some mistake. You're an amateur it's risky.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-police-workplace-fatality-1.6280996

 

[PoorUB]

Most of North Dakota, Minnesota for two, there is others. There is no HVAC inspection in much of the rural areas. There is code requirements, but no enforcement.
And no I am not going to bother getting you information from the state. I worked in both states doing HVAC and there was nobody to call, inspection didn't exist.

 

[Worsedog]

Some of the advice on Garage Journal is dangerous.

Inspections are important.

Here's todays news. "Professional" tradesmen made some mistake. You're an amateur it's risky.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-police-workplace-fatality-1.6280996

And based on many of the comments on stuff that passes inspection, getting a good inspection is a crapshoot.

The OP also stated he wasn't required to have a permit or inspection. If that's case, it's likely there is no mechanism in place for that. It's not like he was bragging about being under the radar. And he's here with multiple eyes on it.

Lighten up Francis, you'll live longer.

 

[Bert_]

Most of North Dakota, Minnesota for two, there is others. There is no HVAC inspection in much of the rural areas. There is code requirements, but no enforcement.
And no I am not going to bother getting you information from the state. I worked in both states doing HVAC and there was nobody to call, inspection didn't exist.

Same here in most of Iowa. The only thing that gets inspected is electrical. Plumbing and HVAC is licensed but there are no permits or inspectors. Everything else is a free-for-all.

 

[PoorUB]

Same here in most of Iowa. The only thing that gets inspected is electrical. Plumbing and HVAC is licensed but there are no permits or inspectors. Everything else is a free-for-all.

Patently waiting for a response from rancherbill.....

 

[readhead]

Several counties around me in Colorado have no building department. The only inspections required are septic and electric which are both done by the state.
Maybe it is different in Canada eh.

 

[PCustoms]

What!!! That's absolute nonsense.

Please list the areas, be specific, along with letters from the building department that states that inspections ARE NOT REQUIRED.

Your post was DANGEROUS INFORMATION.

We don't have a building department.

Who should I get the letter from again?

 

[rancherbill]

The gas, fire, electrical, structural etc. Building Codes have been written after investigations of deaths, injuries, fires. There is no other reasons to have codes. The three little pigs' out the importance of structural codes.

I contracted my house and was very involved in the process. I carefully selected the companies to deal with. Afterward, I counted the number of guys that worked on the house. There were 73. I had to deal with intoxicated and drunk tradesmen and FIRED 3 crews totally and did not pay them. On the remaining crews I had 3 people declared unwelcome for drug or alcohol use. on site. Two of those were subsequently fired by their employer. The inspector caught 3 electrical deficiencies. The electricians onsite were a Master, a journeyman and an apprentice and they made a mistake. The venting on the furnace was wrong. They were journeyman and apprentice gasfitters. I am not going to go on about all the problems with "professional tradesmen" Of all the trades involved in the house only two, the roofers and the stucco people met or exceeded expectations. There's a long list of shoddy workmanship. There were many labourers that said they were tradesman, because they had done the same thing on 10 houses.

Everyone claimed they knew what they were doing, but, they didn't.

On our previous house, the water heater failed during a cold snap. We couldn't get a plumber. I went to HD, bought a tank came home and waited. 2 days later I installed it. A plumber finally said he would come and I wanted him to check my work. He said I did a great GJ job and looked up and said, 'that's not right', and poked the chimney on the furnace. The chimney fell apart. Turns out the guy had just friction fit the chimney and never put in the screws. The house had no inspection, although it should have.

Coming back to the thread topic, there are so many 'experts' on GJ, yet nobody says they are a licensed or journeyman tradesperson. If the lack of inspections is true any bumpkin can run around doing work. Here we have strong trade education and certification, licensing and inspection.

I am amazed at the stuff that the home inspectors post on TikTok. If you want to see a ton of incompetence look at "ChimpContracting", he's a completion inspector on commercial projects. They are large commercial projects and it amazing that people do things they know are wrong.

So to summarize, you got a gas heater, read up on the internet, then did the install, didn't get it inspected., then asked if it was alright to a bunch of unknown self proclaimed experts.

 

[65ranchero]

Like @PCCustoms said we also do not have inspections in our 2k population town.
You are on your own when it comes to regs. and contractors ( better to know something on your own)
The next town over which is a city has inspections.
Add: the only inspection needed is for septic design and install and that is from the State.

 

[PCustoms]

Add: the only inspection needed is for septic design and install and that is from the State.

And even that was a change in the last ~25 years....prior to that they were town issued.

 

[readhead]

Just goes to show that you have to select your contractors very carefully or you may get less than satisfactory results.
Back to the OP’s original question. Did the vent have to go through the wall at that specific location?
It would have made more sense if you had turned out of the unit and gone straight back to the wall.

 

[SyixString]

Just goes to show that you have to select your contractors very carefully or you may get less than satisfactory results.
Back to the OP’s original question. Did the vent have to go through the wall at that specific location?
It would have made more sense if you had turned out of the unit and gone straight back to the wall.

I understand turning then running straight back but it was a mix of space constraint, readily unavailable 45 degree elbows, and where it would come out the wall. If I absolute have problems I can do it this way and just preorder the 45 and wait. I understand this is NOT the best way to do this but my main question was will it work and not cause me problems since it is power vented?

 

[Firebrick43]

Some of the advice on Garage Journal is dangerous.

Inspections are important.

Here's todays news. "Professional" tradesmen made some mistake. You're an amateur it's risky.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-police-workplace-fatality-1.6280996

In my county in indiana there are not inspections except a foundation/framing one.

My experience with inspectors in several counties here in Indiana and in California, well I would ask guys here before I trust the inspectors as a whole. Some were idiots, half didn't really have a clue what they were doing but would ask questions.

As for your firing people without pay due to supposed drug/alcohol issues and your rant about it, well I would say your a zealot. And that makes you dangerous in my opinion.

 

[Firebrick43]

Its a Mr heater big Maxx 50k btu natural gas unit .... didn't have to have a permit or anything or inspections for that matter but is this type of venting ok or am I going to be screwed later on ?? It's category 3 vent just has the 90s at the take off - Im also going to add storm collars and what not and make it look a bit nicer but this is just the rough in right now. Thanks for your time folks!

Post a pic of table 2, as that tells you about the elbows

 

[Sumboodie]

Is Death considered getting screwed. With gas you find out BEFORE you do an install. You are not some kind of tough hero because you won't get an inspection.

Many places don't have inspections.

If I installed that in my garage, it'd be up to me to do it right, using whatever info I can find.

Or hire it out and hope they know what they are doing.

 

[19Vert64]

Rancher seems like a fun guy to go have a beer with

 

[SyixString]

Post a pic of table 2, as that tells you about the elbows

yes it basically says i can have 4 or 5 elbows with the length i am running... only part i get thrown off on is after having the rise with the 90 that i do - do i still carry on with the 1/4" rise per foot on the straight section out the garage wall or am i able to slope those so condensate runs out? I guess im really curious to know just how much condensate i can expect out of this.

 

[PoorUB]

yes it basically says i can have 4 or 5 elbows with the length i am running... only part i get thrown off on is after having the rise with the 90 that i do - do i still carry on with the 1/4" rise per foot on the straight section out the garage wall or am i able to slope those so condensate runs out? I guess im really curious to know just how much condensate i can expect out of this.

If the manual says to run the vent so it has a rise going out, you need a rise going out!

 

[rancherbill]

Rancher seems like a fun guy to go have a beer with

I am, I just don't tolerate idiots.

 

[rancherbill]

All I can is wow! I am truly surprised with the lack of inspections. My cousin is an insurance adjuster and went to Florida for the Hurricane Andrew disaster. He came back with story after story of the shoddy building practices and craftsmanship in the houses he was adjusting. From the comments it appears that shoddy is the base level in many places and the diligent aspire to a higher level.

 

[rancherbill]

As for your firing people without pay due to supposed drug/alcohol issues and your rant about it, well I would say your a zealot. And that makes you dangerous in my opinion.

What! Drugs and alcohol on a worksite is OK? Paying for work that has to be redone from the start is OK? What strange world do you live in?

 

[gmcgeo]

Its a Mr heater big Maxx 50k btu natural gas unit .... didn't have to have a permit or anything or inspections for that matter but is this type of venting ok or am I going to be screwed later on ?? It's category 3 vent just has the 90s at the take off - Im also going to add storm collars and what not and make it look a bit nicer but this is just the rough in right now. Thanks for your time folks!

install looks fine, if you read your manual it will tell you how many 90s you can have on so many feet of a run. I have never seen a T at the start of a garage unit. manual says to have a slope going out... so i would say that's just fine. but again read the manual over that came with the unit. if still unsure call a gas company to come look over install.

 

[SyixString]

install looks fine, if you read your manual it will tell you how many 90s you can have on so many feet of a run. I have never seen a T at the start of a garage unit. manual says to have a slope going out... so i would say that's just fine. but again read the manual over that came with the unit. if still unsure call a gas company to come look over install.

When you say "never seen a T" are you referring to a condensate T or are you referring to what I have going on ?

 

[gmcgeo]

When you say "never seen a T" are you referring to a condensate T or are you referring to what I have going on ?

condensate T

 

[NickH]

I just put in my LP heating system. We do not have municipal HVAC inspections here, but a license is required for the actual propane line connections, and the propane company did a pressure test and had a look at everything before they hooked up the tanks. Everything else I did myself, closely following the manufacturer's directions, and referring to available code documents.

I get a good chuckle whenever these things pop up on here. It's amazing just how much the permitting, licensing, and inspection requirements vary across North America. It's very hard to offer blanket answers and/or opinions on a lot of these things because they vary so much. In my town in Maine we have relatively few inspections, and not too many permit categories.

All of that said, I have learned over the last year of my build that installing most of these systems really isn't rocket science, regardless of the trade.

I hold trained, licensed tradesmen in the highest regard. I also understand that I am probably as smart as the average bear, am ****, and can to follow directions and/or codes, therefore I can complete most any installation to spec and pass any inspection. Sometimes it seems tradespeople cast all DIY'ers as morons, and proclaim that their industry is just so complex that the homeowner couldn't possibly DIY things without causing massive calamity. It has been my experience that this usually isn't true.

The major difference is, I'd never make ANY money commercially since it takes me so much longer than a skilled, trained, licensed tradesman.

As to your pics of the vent, I probably wouldn't leave it like that for the myriad of reasons that other posters have pointed out. I also don't think you are going to blow your building up, burn it down, or die some miserable death instantly if it stays that way. I'd use it cautiously for now until you can figure out the best permanent solution.