I live in a ranch house on a slab, my gas furnace and water heater are in a closet on the main (only) level of the house. There is a vent the size of a cold air return in the ceiling of the utility room that leads to the attic, what purpose does this serve, and shouldn't I go ahead and close this off? It would seem that warm air from the main level and this room could escape/cold air come in, through this hole, but I didn't know if it was neccessary for the gas furnace to operate for some reason?
2007-11-05 06:27:19 · 8 answers · asked by terryc84 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Heat vents are in the floor(where it meets wall, anyway), cold air returns are on the upper walls--- live in a ranch house on a slab, my gas furnace and water heater are in a closet on the main (only) level of the house. There is a vent the size of a cold air return in the ceiling of the utility room that leads to the attic, what purpose does this serve, and shouldn't I go ahead and close this off? It would seem that warm air from the main level and this room could escape/cold air come in, through this hole, but I didn't know if it was neccessary for the gas furnace to operate for some reason?
2007-11-05 06:52:12 · update #1
Usually systems that send out warm air for heating are required to add in 10% of fresh outside air. That sounds like the fresh air inlet for your heating system.
I don't think it is for combustion air for the heater's gas burner.
2007-11-05 07:04:03 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
are your heat vents in the celing ? if so don,t block it off thats the cold air return, for the furnace
2007-11-05 06:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by William B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't block off. It's to let fresh air in and vent any fumes that may build up.
2007-11-05 06:32:31 · answer #3 · answered by James 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your local ordinance may require that fresh air venting. You should contact your local housing inspection office.
2007-11-05 06:55:07 · answer #4 · answered by Nefertiti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be very careful here, you need to determine if your furnace needs the air, if you have a high effeciency furnace and it is not getting its combustion air from outside you need that open, Im sure a hvac guy will answer this one
2007-11-05 06:50:10 · answer #5 · answered by ihranrp 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do not cover this vent it is to vent gas fumes from building up in that closet one of my supervisors once told me gas is only dangerous when its under pressure the vent is to prevent that pressure once you have pressure you have a potential for an explosion in your home so p-lease do not cover that vent
2007-11-05 10:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by Michael E 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes you should block it off *** hot air would be going up it and cold air coming down it and when they collide it will lead to water plus spiders mice etc. could get down it if they are living in the attic
2007-11-05 06:33:55 · answer #7 · answered by cmax45 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is probable for the dryer vent it is uptoyou to do what you want
2007-11-05 07:32:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋