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Furnace condensate draining directly to crawl space dirt floor

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Furnace condensate draining directly to crawl space dirt floor blueman333 01-09-2007
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Posted by blueman333 on January 9, 2007, 1:40 pm


On of our high-efficiency furnaces has its condensate pipe draining
directly to a patch of dirt in the far corner of our crawl space (the
rest of the crawl space floor is covered in black plastic).

The furnace itself is small (it heats only the kitchen and a guest
room above it) and the condensate which drips out slowly seems to get
absorbed immediately into the ground -- there is no pooling and only
maybe a 12inch diameter area of moist soil. There are no wood columns
near any of the moist dirt.

Is it ok to leave the situation this way or should I extend the pipe
back from the far end of the crawl space to the regular basement where
I can then drain it into a proper drain?

The reason I ask is that the crawl space is tight so it would be a
PITA to run properly sloped rigid pipe there. Also, the current
drainage area is about 40 feet from the actual basement opening so I'm
afraid that it might be a bit far for a standard condensate pump.

Could one even argue that in the winter (which is when the furnace
runs), it is not even that bad to have a little moisture in the crawl
space/basement since the air is so dry then anyway (vs. the summer
when the basement and crawl space require a dehumidifier).

Note that the other 2 (larger) furnaces in the home are located in the
basement proper and are properly drained by a condensate pump.

Please advise...
Thanks,
Jeff

Posted by Joseph Meehan on January 9, 2007, 2:20 pm


blueman333 wrote:
> On of our high-efficiency furnaces has its condensate pipe draining
> directly to a patch of dirt in the far corner of our crawl space (the
> rest of the crawl space floor is covered in black plastic).
>
> The furnace itself is small (it heats only the kitchen and a guest
> room above it) and the condensate which drips out slowly seems to get
> absorbed immediately into the ground -- there is no pooling and only
> maybe a 12inch diameter area of moist soil. There are no wood columns
> near any of the moist dirt.
>
> Is it ok to leave the situation this way or should I extend the pipe
> back from the far end of the crawl space to the regular basement where
> I can then drain it into a proper drain?
>
> The reason I ask is that the crawl space is tight so it would be a
> PITA to run properly sloped rigid pipe there. Also, the current
> drainage area is about 40 feet from the actual basement opening so I'm
> afraid that it might be a bit far for a standard condensate pump.
>
> Could one even argue that in the winter (which is when the furnace
> runs), it is not even that bad to have a little moisture in the crawl
> space/basement since the air is so dry then anyway (vs. the summer
> when the basement and crawl space require a dehumidifier).
>
> Note that the other 2 (larger) furnaces in the home are located in the
> basement proper and are properly drained by a condensate pump.
>
> Please advise...
> Thanks,
> Jeff

Do it right, unless you really like mold.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by Mikey S. on January 9, 2007, 2:23 pm


Sounds like a bad idea to me..You better find a way to drain that out
properly before you start a humidity problem in there, oh and that
condensate is very acidic, which can't possibly be good either.

--

Mike S.

> On of our high-efficiency furnaces has its condensate pipe draining
> directly to a patch of dirt in the far corner of our crawl space (the
> rest of the crawl space floor is covered in black plastic).
>



Posted by Todd H. on January 9, 2007, 3:04 pm



I'm not sure, but if I discovered that I'd be concerned too, and
warming up a can of whoop ass to the folks whose sticker is on the
furnace wanting me to call them for service.

Even if in that particular situation it turns out to be fine, I'd be
concerned about whether it's code, or if itll come up when I go to
sell the house and cost me money in repair amounts to fix real or
perceived "safety hazards."

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

Posted by DK on January 9, 2007, 5:04 pm



You seem to have properly evaluated the potential problems so I
suggest you leave it be. I'm sure that after every rain, your crawl
space is many times more moist than what the condensate makes it.





wrote:

>On of our high-efficiency furnaces has its condensate pipe draining
>directly to a patch of dirt in the far corner of our crawl space (the
>rest of the crawl space floor is covered in black plastic).
>
>The furnace itself is small (it heats only the kitchen and a guest
>room above it) and the condensate which drips out slowly seems to get
>absorbed immediately into the ground -- there is no pooling and only
>maybe a 12inch diameter area of moist soil. There are no wood columns
>near any of the moist dirt.
>
>Is it ok to leave the situation this way or should I extend the pipe
>back from the far end of the crawl space to the regular basement where
>I can then drain it into a proper drain?
>
>The reason I ask is that the crawl space is tight so it would be a
>PITA to run properly sloped rigid pipe there. Also, the current
>drainage area is about 40 feet from the actual basement opening so I'm
>afraid that it might be a bit far for a standard condensate pump.
>
>Could one even argue that in the winter (which is when the furnace
>runs), it is not even that bad to have a little moisture in the crawl
>space/basement since the air is so dry then anyway (vs. the summer
>when the basement and crawl space require a dehumidifier).
>
>Note that the other 2 (larger) furnaces in the home are located in the
>basement proper and are properly drained by a condensate pump.
>
>Please advise...
>Thanks,
>Jeff


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