This goes to say that high efficiency furnaces have an inbuilt fresh air intake and do not use the air inside your home. They are designed to draw air from the outdoors. That said, you will still benefit from installing a fresh air intake as these intakes improve indoor air quality and also wick excess moisture.

Does a high efficiency furnace need a fresh air intake?

Since high efficiency furnaces draw air directly from outside, the furnace itself does not require a fresh air intake in order to replace inside air that otherwise would have been drawn from the room the furnace is located in.

Can you run a furnace without a cold air return?

Simply put, a cold air vent returns cold air back into the furnace. No furnace can adequately operate without sufficient return air supply.

Is a fresh air intake necessary?

Fresh air intakes are necessary for any home that has a furnace. Whether you have a conventional furnace or a high-efficiency option installed, there are downsides to not having a functional, fresh air intake.

Does an electric furnace need outside air?

Fresh air intake is not required since electric furnaces heat using a series of electric elements. There are large chimney flues or vents installed to remove the products of combustion from the living space in older homes.

Why does a furnace need outside air?

Why It is Important to Know About a Fresh Air Intake Vent



A furnace needs air as oxygen and it is important in combustion. Some people think that a vent on the outside doesn’t make sense because it is cold during the winter but it actually is good for the air quality in the home.

How do you exhaust a high efficiency furnace?

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Quote from Youtube video: It is going to be vented through three inch PVC. And you can actually hear Tracy cutting the holes for the PVC that's actually going to be ran out the side of the house. Alright.

What happens if a room doesn’t have a cold air return?

In homes with a single central return-air grille, return air often struggles to find its way back to the furnace. The result: room-to-room pressure imbalances that lead to uneven room temperatures, comfort complaints, higher energy costs, and even moisture problems in walls and ceilings.

What happens if you block an air return?

In the heating cycle, blocked cold air returns can cause the heat exchanger inside the blower compartment to store too much heat and eventually crack. If the cracks are too large, the furnace can emit carbon monoxide into your home’s air. Such a condition normally requires a complete system replacement.

Does my HVAC have fresh air intake?

In general, the HVAC system does not bring fresh air into a building. A space is heated and cooled using recycled indoor air, with exterior HVAC units serving as a means of air release rather than intake.

Can an electric furnace be installed outside?

Outdoor duct furnaces are specifically designed to be used outside the building and cannot be used inside.

Do electric heaters need ventilation?

No, an electric water heater does not have a ventilation system. Only a gas model water heater requires venting. Due to power supply problems, many people use gas-based water heaters.

Does an electric heater need to be vented?

Electric space heaters are usually more expensive to operate than combustion space heaters, but because there are no combustion byproducts, they can be safely used with no venting. However, they can still cause burns and fires if not used properly.

Do electric water heaters need to be vented to the outside?

No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.

Do electric hot water heaters need to be elevated?

It is not necessary for electric water heaters, or 30 to 50-gallon gas water heaters manufactured after mid-2003. The code states that “appliances having an ignition source shall be elevated not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor in garages,” and the purpose of this stipulation is fire safety.

Do tankless water heaters need to be vented outside?

Tankless hot water heaters require special venting to blow hot exhaust gas outside, where it dissipates. Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters, gas tankless hot water heaters offer far more versatile venting options.

Can you vent tankless water heater with furnace?

When installing a tankless water heater, you have to consider the type of heater to guide you on what kind of venting you will need. Since a high-efficiency gas water heater produces corrosive combustion gases, you should avoid connecting it with the furnace vent or other existing vents for other appliances.

Does a gas hot water heater need to be vented?

Venting. All natural gas water heaters must be vented to the outdoors to remove the byproducts of combustion. Atmospherically venting gas water heaters is the most common type of venting option used.

Do tankless water heaters need fresh air intake?

Indoor gas tankless water heaters need to be vented. All indoor models have an exhaust vent. Indoor models also need a fresh air intake either from a direct vent or a power vent. Direct vent models draw fresh air from outside and can be installed in small spaces.

Can I use PVC for water heater vent?

A standard will be needed for plastic flue pipes that should include a temperature gauge and a high limit probe. Then PVC, CPVC and polypropylene flue gas piping can be safely used on high efficiency boilers and water heaters.

Is it normal to smell gas from a tankless water heater?

If you smell gas from a tankless water heater, it means there is a leak somewhere, which you need to get fixed out immediately. A tankless water heater will give out gas-only when there is a gas leak or incomplete combustion. Of course, a gas leak is hazardous, so it isn’t something you should overlook.