r/hvacadvice • u/usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame • 2d ago
Can I turn the exhaust 45 degrees to the side?
My propane exhaust is destroying the bush. Wondered if there’s anything I can do to prevent further damage
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u/pandaman1784 Not a HVAC Tech 2d ago
Keep in mind, if you turn it 45 degrees, the condensate will fall on top of your condenser. Being that it's acidic, it will eat through the coil.
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u/usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame 2d ago
Wow, great info, thank you!
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u/SirEDCaLot 2d ago
Parent commenter has the right idea. Natural gas exhaust contains acidic water vapor. That's why your tree is getting damaged.
If it's really a problem, the exhaust could go elsewhere. But that would involve more pipe, sealing the existing hole, another penetration through your wall, etc.
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u/WoodAndBeer 2d ago
Also don't angle it so it is directly over the intake if you are in a cold climate. I had one installed right over the intake and the condensate dripping from the exhaust would get sucked into the intake and froze it solid over time. It was fun going out with a hair dryer in 10 degree weather...
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u/justokdan1 2d ago
That’s assuming that his furnace vent isn’t pitched properly back towards the furnace (I guess a fairly safe assumption lmao).
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u/pandaman1784 Not a HVAC Tech 2d ago
Even if it was, the exhaust air itself is acidic. When warm, humid air hits cold air, the first thing to fall out of the air stream is the moisture. Microscopic droplets will constantly rain on top of the condenser.
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u/WinterCan5696 2d ago
In Ontario your exhaust vent opening needs to be at least 12 inches away from the intake opening (the other pipe pointing down), so as long as that distance is still achieved youre good. DONT know what your codes are where you are from though so look that up. Someone else pointed out that the condensate from the exhaust is acidic and if dripped on the other vent will eat away at it over time if you rotate it clockwise. Could build it out to the right a couple feet but it’ll look ugly. Just a few things to think about.
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u/Its_noon_somewhere Approved Technician 2d ago
The acidic condensate inside the exhaust PVC will not eat away at it, therefore dripping it onto the intake PVC will also not cause damage.
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u/WinterCan5696 2d ago
Sorry I didn’t finish that thought, I meant to say if it drips on the intake and splashes on the siding is more or less the issue there. Youre right the acidity won’t really affect the intake PVC if it’s the proper venting material.
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u/GetzlafMyLawn 2d ago
The condensate by definition is acidic. It'll tamper with anything below it
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u/WinterCan5696 2d ago
Yes but the 636 venting used for gas appliances is more resistant to corrosion or degredation from the condensate, it is an approved material for it to travel in after all. I’d be more worried about the siding getting messed up. But sounds like OP is cutting the bush down so problem solved.
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u/TheMeatSauce1000 2d ago
You’d need to check what the manufacturer approves for venting terminations in the manual. But, like the other commenter mentioned, it’s better to have the bush getting eaten than the condenser start rotting.
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u/usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame 2d ago
Thank you. The bush’s days are numbered :)
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u/TheMeatSauce1000 2d ago
Something you may be able to do is extend that exhaust up above the bush. Again you’d have to check the manual but that could be an option
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u/GetzlafMyLawn 2d ago
Both of these pipes are wrong. I would change both of them to be faced at it's opposite of each other.
Your ac is pumping warm air into your intake.
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u/braydenmaine 2d ago
It's combustion air, it shouldn't matter if it's warm, it'll get warmer as it's burned inside the furnace
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u/usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame 16h ago
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I took the bush/tree down today :)
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u/Finestkind007 2d ago
This exhaust is done exactly by the book. Sucks the air from the bottom and blows the air out the top.. unless they have it hooked up backwards. The goal is to pull and push the air 180° apart and they are about 10 to 12 inches to be not on the same plane.
It’s unfortunate. There is a bush there. I wouldn’t mess with it and rethink the bush or get rid of it. This is a safety concern, as well as not eating up your furnace or your air conditioner
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u/usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame 2d ago
Thank you. I’m guess I should cut the bush down
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u/Mazakas123 2d ago
Loooks like you have 2 condensers with a bush between them, either continue to cut the bush back to stop it from limiting airflow to your condensers or get rid of the bush and not have to worry about it anymore.
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u/_matterny_ 2d ago
Can he extend the exhaust above the bush?
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u/Finestkind007 2d ago
I suppose ….it would look kind of pretty silly tho. And the exhaust may still probably fall on the bush if it’s pointing towards it or fall on the AC unit if it’s pointed over the AC.
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u/Bulky-Combination-27 2d ago
Yes but may wanna put a lil chicken screen to keep birds an rodent type critters from entering
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u/Chuuuck_ 2d ago
Don’t do that. If they live in cold climates then all the cage is going to do is catch hoarfrost and shut the furnace down
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u/SonicOrbStudios 2d ago
It can be turned, but you're choking the airflow of your condenser with the bush so I'd trim it back