Need help venting radiant tube heater.

[bullnerd]

I installed my Superior radiant heater and am having a hard time deciding how to vent the exhaust.

It came with a thimble and an exterior hood piece. I dont like the thimble, looks like a PIA to seal to the ribbed metal siding. Will look for a smaller round one. The exterior piece looks fine and will probably use it.

I could go straight out the back wall, which is only about 4' from the end, you can see in the pics.

But, I'm thinking I'd like to go up through the attic and then out the back wall , which is only the metal siding, no insulation.

So, how do I do this? Can I use standard metal 4" flue pipe fittings? How do I separate the pipe and blown in insulation in the attic where it passes through the ceiling? Can I just put a sheet metal collar around it? Do I NEED B type tubing? I'd rather not use the B stuff if its not necessary due to the higher cost.

Take a look at the pics, thanks for any advice. Pics of how you did yours would be cool.

 

[bullnerd]

Don't all answer at once! lol!

Getting closer to needing to figure this out.

Any advice would be cool.

I should ask the electricians! They love to tell people how to do stuff!

 

[Double J]

I'd jog around your attic opening and out the side wall. You'd have a few bends, but that leaves room for expansion movement (and it will). I found a round thimble at Menards that fit in-between the tall ribs with a few minor mods and then siliconed it nice and tight.


What I did was cut a large enough opening through the interior OSB wall to where I had enough wiggle room to make sure I could line up the hole for the round thimble to be placed in-between the tall ribs of the exterior metal.


After I cut the exterior hole and installed the exterior portion of the thimble, I made a patch piece of OSB to cover the rectangle hole in the OSB and connect the interior portion of the thimble.

 

[bullnerd]

Thanks for the reply DJ.

It looks like you used a combination of B type and standard?

Hard to tell from the pics, but the flue is offset enough to miss the attic opening enough to allow access. Once the insulation is up there It will be closed up except for adding wire or other stuff.

I think I have to go to a real HVAC supply house for a decent thimble. No Menards around here.

 

[Double J]

It looks like you used a combination of B type and standard?

You are correct. The only B-type I have is going through the wall thimble.

 

[bullnerd]

OK, thanks again.

 

[bullnerd]

Well, looks like i'm going to go straight out.

Cant find enough info about going into the unheated attic.

I went to my local hvac place and they are sold out of a lot of fittings, including a smaller thimble. Awesome!