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Furnaces remain the most popular heating system for homeowners in Elgin, IL, and the rest of the country. Millions of homeowners rely on natural gas furnaces to stay warm in the colder months of the year. However, the design of these systems means they need a vent to work safely and efficiently.
As leading expert HVAC contractors in Elgin, IL, we see many people asking, “Can I vent my furnace through the wall?” We’ll answer this question in detail in this post.
Why Do Furnace Systems Need Vents?
Natural gas furnaces produce heat through an elaborate process that depends heavily on combustion. The gas produced during the process must safely leave the furnace and your home. That’s the role of the flue or vent.
The combustion gases, which often include carbon monoxide, will flow through the vents to the atmosphere, away from your indoor space. Without the vent, the combustion gases will enter your home, causing various health issues, including carbon monoxide poisoning.
Now, a standard furnace vent goes up vertically. However, vertical vents are not always practical.
The Possibility of Sidewall Venting
If you’re asking, “Can I vent my furnace through the wall?” the answer is yes, you can. However, it’s not for every type of furnace system. Furnace systems you can vent through the wall are high-efficiency furnaces with Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of at least 90.
These furnaces are able to reabsorb heat from combustion gases. Therefore, they give off cooler and less acidic exhaust gases, making sidewall venting practical.
If you have a standard or older furnace system, safe sidewall venting is more difficult and may be impossible, depending on where you live.
The Advantages of Venting Your Furnace Through the Wall
There are many advantages to a wall-vented furnace:
Better Space Management
With sidewall venting, you won’t need to make space for a chimney or vertical flue, giving you more free space to work with. This is a significant advantage if you have limited roof access or if indoor space is at a premium.
Installation Flexibility
Vertical venting often means you can only install your furnace in the attic or the basement most of the time. With wall venting, you’ll have more flexibility on how and where you can install the furnace system without worrying about efficiency and safety.
Pocket-Friendly Solution
Wall venting is generally more cost-effective than installing a rooftop hue or repairing a chimney. The cost-savings don’t end there. Wall venting also lowers energy bills by minimizing heat loss due to a longer ductwork surface area. Wall vents are shorter, so a high-efficiency furnace will have more heat to reabsorb from exhaust gases.
Things to Consider Before You Choose Side Venting
Although side venting is possible, it’s still not practical for everyone. Here are a few things you’ll need to consider before you get to work on constructing the wall vent.
Check Local Building Codes and Manufacturer Recommendations
It’s crucial to find out what the local building codes say before installing a sidewall vent. For example, you need to confirm that your vent will fall within the recommended minimum distances from doors, windows, and property lines.
If you are under an HOA, they may also have separate rules for sidewall venting.
Similarly, your manufacturer will recommend clearance limits for vents. Meeting the clearance requirements is crucial if you want to keep combustion gases from backing up into your home. It’s also essential if you want to minimize the risk of fire hazards.
Set Aside a Budget for High-Quality Venting Materials
You can only complete sidewall venting with stainless steel or PVC vent pipes. They are the best choice because they can withstand corrosion.
Secure the Services of a Professional Furnace Technician
Sidewall venting is a challenging project requiring strict adherence to safety protocols, accurate measurements, and more. It’s not a job for an inexperienced HVAC technician. So, before you decide on this approach, you need to find an HVAC technician with adequate experience in sidewall venting.
Common Downsides of Sidewall Venting
Sidewall venting isn’t without its disadvantages. Some of them include the following:
Higher Risk of Condensation Buildup
Sidewall vent systems are more prone to the buildup of condensation. This is especially true in colder climates like in Elgin, where winter temperatures can drop to 10 degrees. The condensation problem can affect your furnace’s efficiency and cause corrosion in key components.
You can avoid this risk by insulating the vent and installing condensate traps.
Higher Risk of Exhaust Gas Backup
The wind direction can affect the flow of exhaust gases from sidewall vents making them less efficient. It’s also possible for the winds to blow the gases back into the home through any nearby open windows or doors.
More Demanding Maintenance Regime
Unlike vertical vents, sidewall vents require more frequent maintenance to keep them performing optimally and to ensure your safety.
Ideally, you should schedule a maintenance visit at least once a year. During the visit, the technician will check for signs of corrosion, blockages, and other forms of damage and address them quickly.
Possible Reduction in Efficiency
Your high-efficiency furnace may lose some of its edge if you choose to install a sidewall vent. It’s best to discuss with an HVAC expert on how choosing a sidewall vent ahead of a conventional vertical vent can affect your furnace system.
Trust Leith Heating & Cooling with Your Furnace Issues in Elgin, IL
Your choice of venting can cause furnace ignition failure in the short term and shorten the lifespan of your furnace system over the long term. It may also affect your family’s health. So, although you now know the answer to “Can I vent my furnace through the wall?” it’s important to weigh your options carefully before deciding on anything.
Do you need expert guidance? We can help!
Call the Leith Heating & Cooling in Elgin, IL, today at 847-565-1568 to schedule a consultation.