GBlist: Sealed ? combustion

DBrook@aol.com
Wed, 12 Mar 1997 10:40:43 -0500 (EST)

There's this mantra going around about sealed combustion these days. Here's
a question I've wondered about: I have a Trane 90% furnace with PVC venting
and air intake etc. (XL-90 model TUC if anyone cares) I assumed at the time
of purchase that since it was a 90% and had the PVC vent and air supply that
it must be sealed combustion. But I can remove the front panel while the
unit is firing and see the burners and flame so I am thinking to myself -
what kind of a seal is that? Reading the service manual left with the unit
does not say anything about being sealed and allows the installer to set it
up to use room air. Caveat emptor, I guess.

I heard once that Canada requires furnaces to be tested to - 5 Pa standard.
I wonder if that include direct vent and sealed units? I'm skeptical that a
lot of the direct vent gas fireplaces could withstand significant
depressurization.

And how the heck do you test for a cracked heat exchanger on one if they
really are sealed?

Dave Brook
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