Q & A #1

[Michael Brown]

This is a mid efficiency, draft-induced, thru-wall package type gas furnace with AC. See anything wrong here? If so, how would you report it?

Answers revealed next week!

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Mitenbuler, Chicago)

[Bruce Thomas]

I've never seen one of these, we don't have them around here. It look to me like a leaking condensate catch pan. I'd strongly suggest that it be evaluated by an HVAC tech.

[Jim Baird]

Looks like a rusty heat exchanger.

[Brian G]

I see heavy rust and corrosion in the heat exchanger opening. I'd say it may well be at or near the end of its service life and need replacement.

[Michael Brown]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your responses. You can't see each other's responses, but so far everyone has stated what they thought was going on, but nobody has actually "reported" what they saw the way they would in their reports. The point of the exercise is to help others learn to identify deficiencies and report them in a way that will ensure they've done right by their clients, while at the same time accurately documenting what they saw in their report. Part of that equation is also correctly referring the issue to others, when necessary, for follow-up as appropriate.

So, how about writing it the same way that you would in your report? With input from others, by the time each photo's thread has run its course folks should have learned at least how to describe the issue and report it several ways.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[chrisprickett]

(I have to qualify that I've never seen one of these puppies in person, and it's hard to get a good grip from one picture, but here goes)

There is rust and corrosion inside the gas furnace. This is likely due to condensation that is not draining properly. I recommend further evaluation by a licensed HVAC contractor, during your inspection period, because the cost of repairs could be several hundred dollars.

[kurt]

"The furnace has water coming out of the tubular heat exchanger into the burner compartment; this is completely unacceptable & indicates some serious defect in the system. All of the (6) tubes were badly rusted, water was actively running out of the heat exchanger, and there was water standing in the bottom of the combustion chamber. The AC condensate pan & drain are BELOW the heat exchanger, so the AC is not the source of the water. What all this means is that there is a major problem w/ the furnace, & I don’t know what it is without dismantling the entire system to determine the source of the water & why it is on the interior of the heat exchanger tube.

I did not fire the furnace to test the heat mode due to the above problem(s). Have a licensed heating contractor reinspect the furnace to determine the cause & source of the water and provide repairs. Given the visible condition of the heat exchanger, & the water coming out from “insideâ€

[Terence McCann]

Kurt:

Was this a counter-flow furnace? From the pic it's a little hard to make out the configuration.

[RobC]

Not so sure about the rules of the game here.

But if it was permitted to ask a question it would be.

What exactly is a thru-wall furnace [:-paperba and would you have a photo of the actual installation showing its exact location in the home?

[gadget]

the inspector plate is missing and their looks to be intake next to it

[hausdok]

Many thanks to those who participated. Now that I've turned off moderation you can see each others' responses, and I've plastered Kurt's pretty mug in the member's spotlight for you all to swoon over.

Okay, some of you promised to send me gobs of photos, so we could keep this feature humming. However, so far, nobody's followed through. Come on guys and gals, I know you all find some interesting and challenging stuff out there. Let's let the others have a crack at figuring it out. E-mail me those photos!

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike