How do I test my furnace exhaust pipe?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Usually not occasionally you could have a bad pressure switch but most cases there's an obstruction in the vent that's gonna cause the pressure switch to open its contacts.

How do I know if my furnace exhaust is blocked?





How to tell if your exhaust vent is blocked

  1. Furnace doesn’t heat the air. By far, the most common symptom of a blocked exhaust vent is a furnace that doesn’t heat up. …
  2. Furnace heats up for a little while, then shuts off. …
  3. Furnace cover panel gets hot. …
  4. Bad smells when your furnace is heating.


What should the CO levels be from a furnace exhaust?

It’s normal for most modern furnaces to have a CO level of less than 50 PPM in the flue, and older natural draft units can safely skate by with levels as high as 200 PPM. However, a furnace with CO levels higher than 200 PPM in the flue should never be in operation without being adjusted or repaired first.

Is it normal to smell gas from furnace exhaust?

It is totally normal to smell a gas smell in the exhaust from your HVAC system, as this is how it expels used fuel or gas that may not have been completely used in your system. This is typical and how your HVAC system should function. The solution: Pay attention to when you can smell this scent.

Should there be water in furnace exhaust pipe?





When a high efficiency furnace releases the exhaust gases, condensation is created. This condensation is a significant amount of moisture on the PVC pipe, and it needs to be drained either into a floor drain or a condensation pump. A water leakage occurs when the condensation is unable to drain properly.

Should furnace exhaust be hot?

It’s normal for your exhaust pipe and the exhaust to feel warm. It’s also normal to see icicles or other icy build-up around the pipe during freezing weather. If your pipe is very hot, call Breedlove Dobbs so we can have an experienced and qualified technician check it out.

What happens if furnace flue is blocked?

A blocked exhaust flue might only cause a furnace to short cycle and nothing more. However, a blocked or broken flue also has the potential to circulate exhaust and carbon monoxide into your home. A large concentration of exhaust fumes in the furnace cabinet could also create a fire or explosion hazard.

What should exhaust smell like?

Regular Exhaust Smell



Normally, exhaust has a sort of smoky, musty smell. It’s hard to describe, but relatively easy to identify by smell. If your exhaust smells like exhaust normally does, you may not have anything to worry about . . . depending on where you can smell it.

How can you tell if your furnace is leaking gas?



Natural gas is odorless, so manufacturers add a chemical known as mercaptan to give it a detectable smell. Mercaptan smells sulfur-like, similar to rotten eggs. If you detect a rotten egg smell near your furnace, coming out of your ductwork, or elsewhere in your home, you may be dealing with a gas leak.

Why does my vent smell like gas?

Burning Gas Smell



This initial smell is caused by dust getting burned off the heat exchanger, and it should usually go away after a few minutes. If you detect a burning gas smell, and it is NOT coming through your air vent registers, there may be a leak within your HVAC equipment or at the joint of a pipe.

How do I clean my furnace exhaust pipe?

Scrub the inside free of any dust and debris; then use the handheld vacuum to get out as much as you can. Wipe it clear with a rag or soft cloth and then replace the cap. Cut away any branches or remove any object that might be obstructing the pipe and creating debris. The vent should always be clear.

How do you unclog a furnace drain pipe?



To unclog your drain line, follow these steps:

  1. Check to see how bad the clog is. Take a look in your drain pan and outside where the drain line goes to see if it is something simple to fix. …
  2. Remove the clog by hand. …
  3. Use a drain brush or drain snake. …
  4. Use a wet/dry vacuum. …
  5. Use a drain gun.


What are the two pipes coming out of my furnace?

Direct-vent (two-pipe) system: The two-pipe system is most common in home heating applications. It provides a direct intake vent that brings outside air to the sealed combustion chamber with one pipe, while a second vent pipe provides sealed venting of exhaust gases back to the outside of your house.

What do furnace exhaust pipes look like?

They will most likely be white or black pipes, set in a curved shape near the foundation wall (above grade) of your home.

How is a gas furnace vented?



These furnaces vent gas away from your house through a flue pipe. The flue pipe is attached to the heat exchanger, where the gas combusts and produces heat energy. Gas exits the house through the exhaust pipe, which usually leads up to a house’s roof.

What type of pipe is used for gas furnace exhaust?

PVC pipes are used on conventional and sealed combustion high-efficiency furnaces. This is because their combustion process produces and exhausts gases and condensate at a rapid pace, which would corrode metal materials in a short time.

How much does it cost to replace a furnace flue pipe?

Your furnace uses flue pipes to exhaust gases outside your home. The average cost to repair or replace a flue pipe is $400–$800.

How hot should a furnace exhaust pipe get?

To make it simple, the typical combustion gas temperature for a 90+% efficient furnace should be in the 100 to 130 degree F range. This usually equates to a median pipe material temperature value of 86 to 100 degree F.