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Inspecting HVAC Systems Topics include heating, venting, and air conditioning inspections.

 
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  #1  
Old 2/3/12, 1:45 PM
Michael Inwards Michael Inwards is offline
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Default Mystery lines into furnace plenum

Can anybody shed any light on the possible meaning of these pipes? At first I wondered about a 'poor mans geo' which shows up around here now and then...where somebody just runs well water through a coil for some cooling effect and it exits through a sprinkler or something. But wait...then I spotted the TPR valve and thought of no reason why that might be needed for well water cooling. I wondered about a home made weird heat exchanger....might set up aid in keeping the water in the hot water supply warm? there is what appears to be a small rainman pump on one pipe. There happened to be a plumber there at the same time and he had no idea. Perhaps somebody has run into a similar setup.
mike in MN
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  #2  
Old 2/3/12, 2:10 PM
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Bob Elliott Bob Elliott is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

Was there a circulation pump at the water heater?
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  #3  
Old 2/3/12, 2:42 PM
Michael Inwards Michael Inwards is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

no pump at the heater...however the little pump right next ot the plenum. and whats up with the crossover pipe at the top with shutoff valve. evidently whats ever in there can be isolated.

granpa mike in mn
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  #4  
Old 2/3/12, 2:46 PM
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Bob Elliott Bob Elliott is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

Yeah I see the cross over but it is blocked from view and also does it transition to PVC?
Looks like it.
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  #5  
Old 2/3/12, 3:21 PM
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Christopher Currins Christopher Currins is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

Where do pipes go (connected to) after leaving the unit?



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  #6  
Old 2/3/12, 5:36 PM
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Charley L. Bottger Charley L. Bottger is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

From one grandpa to another ya need to follow the lines back to where they started ya will very likely find a water heater or at least something that will give ya a clue



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  #7  
Old 2/6/12, 9:32 AM
Michael Inwards Michael Inwards is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

thanks for all the replies...this a older home and everything was built into something else so difficult to follow the pipes to their termination. im just happy enough that its something thats hard to recognize for other top o' the line inspectors too...and therefore not some obvious thing i was just currently too dumb to figure out. i think its a homeowner custom invention to unknown end. thanks for looking
grandpa mike in mn
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  #8  
Old 2/6/12, 9:36 AM
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Mark A. Timpani, CMI Mark A. Timpani, CMI is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

hydronic heating?




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  #9  
Old 2/6/12, 12:34 PM
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

I would go crazy not knowing.
Here sir,please keep tapping till I say stop.
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  #10  
Old 2/12/12, 1:45 PM
Richard Webb Richard Webb is offline
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Default Re: Mystery lines into furnace plenum

Could be hydronic cooling but lines are not insulated well and no sign of sweating. My vote is hot water heating with a hot water boiler outside or in an equipment room.
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