Blower vent tube crack

[homnspector]

RUUD furnace, 2003 model

Any ideas why this would crack like this? I have seen the blower housings cracked but not the entire tube.

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[hausdok]

Check this out. Read down to mid-page: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01069.html

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Neal Lewis]

Mike,

I don't think that black stuff is the HTVP. It looks like the same material as all of those cracked inducer fan housings. Most of the inducer failures were older than 2003, but were common with the Rheem/Ruud.

Couldn't tell you why it cracked.

[Bill Kibbel]

It looks like the crack occurred to relieve a twisting/rotation force. The constant heating and cooling of the plastic probably determined this would be the weak spot.

[Chad Fabry]

It does look like a torsional crack as Bill suggested. It's likely that a torque load was applied at the time of assembly by twisting the tube into the housing and then "straightening" the assembly by bolting down the blower. Vibration fatigue will eventually break everything.

[fqp25]

Was the furnace/venting installed in a tight spot?

This could have been caused by poor vent installation. Such as not measuring correctly, leaving a piece a hair too long, or too short, combined with what Chad said.

[Bain]

I saw something similar during yesterday afternoon's gig. The tube between the draft inducer and the PVC had separated at both vertical seams and flue gases were streaming through the cracks, which is why the bottom of the access panel is so rusted. Umm, and in case anyone is wondering, I wrote up the other leaks and the compression fitting on the gas-supply line, as well.

Does anyone know if the black tube has a proper name?

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[hausdok]

I've always called it a condensate drain.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[homnspector]

I guess I'll go with Chad's tortion theory, it is part of the assembly that was factory installed and the crack was not near a connection or joint. My best guess is the tube was partially cracked and usage cracked it completely. It is pretty wierd, that plastic is pretty tough.