Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Furnace heating attic space
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Stochastic
01-14-09, 05:51 PM
I was looking in my attic today to check out the insulation and noticed the attic was very hot. It's around 32 degrees outside, so this struck me as odd, but it was near the furnace so chalked it up to radiant heat.
After further inspection, I came across an open duct in the furnace supply duct work. As obvious as the picture makes it look, it was hidden and took some arm twisting to get the photo. Is there any practical reason this should be there, or should I plug up the hole?
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/stochatic23/IMG_0979.jpg
After further inspection, I came across an open duct in the furnace supply duct work. As obvious as the picture makes it look, it was hidden and took some arm twisting to get the photo. Is there any practical reason this should be there, or should I plug up the hole?
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/stochatic23/IMG_0979.jpg
thermofridge
01-14-09, 06:05 PM
Cant imagine why it would be there. There must be some reason it is there. Maybe not a good reason. Is your furnace high efficiency? Maybe the condensate drain froze? Who knows, but it sounds like a waste of energy.
Stochastic
01-14-09, 06:21 PM
It's only an 80% and I can't see any sign of freezing. It's new construction, but sold "AS IS" (foreclosure) so it's anyone's guess if there were problems or not.
airman.1994
01-14-09, 06:28 PM
Looks like it was never finished. No flex, Not sealed! Make sure you have ducts going to all the grills. If you do remove the take off, go to a sheet metal shop and get a scrap pies of duct liner and a 8x8 patch and screw it in place then seal it so no air leaks.
Skip4661
01-14-09, 07:11 PM
Just a guess but may be it is to keep the limit from tripping.
Stochastic
01-14-09, 10:08 PM
In the process of patching it up, I found the unconnected flex duct buried in the spray-in insulation. I took a scrap piece of sheet metal (as suggested) and temporarily patched it up with duct tape. I'll have to get the plastic ties and attach the duct later.
Patching up the hole made a HUGE difference... the furnace fires up maybe half as much as it used it... go figure.
Patching up the hole made a HUGE difference... the furnace fires up maybe half as much as it used it... go figure.
SeattlePioneer
01-14-09, 10:41 PM
Heh, heh! For Pete's sake --- this is the snow melting system for the roof!
But to be serious, you might actually have to be concerned about just removing the ductwork and capping the hole with a piece of sheet metal and some screws.
After doing that, I'd check the furnace and make sure it's not overheating and cycling off on the limit switch.
But to be serious, you might actually have to be concerned about just removing the ductwork and capping the hole with a piece of sheet metal and some screws.
After doing that, I'd check the furnace and make sure it's not overheating and cycling off on the limit switch.