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otherwhitemeat
All, I have been a cab grower for the past year and want to expand my capabilities somewhat. Today, my cab sits in a utility room that also contains the house furnace and the hot water heater. The cab exhausts into the room through carbon filters and a small fan on the room itself gently exchanges air through a 3 foot passive vent louver.
I am interested in breaking out of the cabinet and expanding my space a bit into my utility room. Both the furnace and hot water heater exhaust gases into a flue that goes up and out through the chimney. The flue is lined. I have a double flue design as my house has a fireplace on the main floor. One flue is for the fireplace, the other flue handles the HW heater and gas furnace.
I am interested in seeing if it's possible to exhaust my grow into and out of the flue. I have done some research, but a friend of mine who's a plumber (but not an HVAC expert) said it might not be a good idea as exhaust gases from the mechanicals could back up if I 'splice' into the existing stovepipes with a 'Y' or 'T' fitting and if I don't use a flapper vent. My point is that since the grow fans are always on, there is no chance for backup and therefore no need for a flapper.
The water heater is a 'draft induction' type where air is drawn into the exhaust and out into a 3" stovepipe through an open manifold. The furnace is direct draft (4" to 5" stovepipe)
Both connect up to the same flue. The HW heater is piped into the flue just above the furnace about one foot...
I can't find my camera, but I hope to post some pics if that helps.
Do I need to cut into the flue masonry? If so, then higher or lower than the other mechanicals? Is there an easier way, perhaps a Y fitting or something? If so, which mechanical should I should splice into?
Not sure if anyone has any similar experience in this regard and can give me some details, photos, or other useful info. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I am interested in breaking out of the cabinet and expanding my space a bit into my utility room. Both the furnace and hot water heater exhaust gases into a flue that goes up and out through the chimney. The flue is lined. I have a double flue design as my house has a fireplace on the main floor. One flue is for the fireplace, the other flue handles the HW heater and gas furnace.
I am interested in seeing if it's possible to exhaust my grow into and out of the flue. I have done some research, but a friend of mine who's a plumber (but not an HVAC expert) said it might not be a good idea as exhaust gases from the mechanicals could back up if I 'splice' into the existing stovepipes with a 'Y' or 'T' fitting and if I don't use a flapper vent. My point is that since the grow fans are always on, there is no chance for backup and therefore no need for a flapper.
The water heater is a 'draft induction' type where air is drawn into the exhaust and out into a 3" stovepipe through an open manifold. The furnace is direct draft (4" to 5" stovepipe)
Both connect up to the same flue. The HW heater is piped into the flue just above the furnace about one foot...
I can't find my camera, but I hope to post some pics if that helps.
Do I need to cut into the flue masonry? If so, then higher or lower than the other mechanicals? Is there an easier way, perhaps a Y fitting or something? If so, which mechanical should I should splice into?
Not sure if anyone has any similar experience in this regard and can give me some details, photos, or other useful info. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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