InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Message Board > Geographically Specific Forums > Canadian Inspectors

Notices

Canadian Inspectors This forum is specifically for Canadian Home Inspectors.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 8/23/07, 7:11 PM
Mark Ellison Mark Ellison is offline
New User
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
Please Note: Mark Ellison is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Appliance connector

Please have a look at the attached pic. Apparently it is wrong and I'm concerned I didn't see an issue. Being fairly new to the game I'd appreciate your comments. Also, if you please, what is allowed for venting a gas clothes dryer? My understanding is metal (tin foil type) was allowable, even though hard vent is best.

Many thanks,

Mark Ellison
Brampton

PS - I AM a member, don't know why it's saying otherwise!!??
Attached Thumbnails
appliance-connector-000_0065.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 8/24/07, 12:20 AM
dcook1's Avatar
dcook1 dcook1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Stayner, On
Posts: 950
Please Note: dcook1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Mark,
What is supposed to be wrong?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8/24/07, 5:33 AM
Michael R. Boyett's Avatar
Michael R. Boyett Michael R. Boyett is online now
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 4,352
Default Re: Appliance connector

Flex tubing used to connect the natural gas supply to a heating unit or appliance should not pass through the metal chassis of the appliance. Vibrations, over time, can wear a hole and cause a premature failure of the tubing. A 'black pipe nipple' should extend to the outside of the chassis then connect to the flex tubing.
Heater example: appliance-connector-flex-and-drip-custom-.jpg Drip (Custom).jpg
Views:	19
Size:	47.5 KB
ID:	14127

Last edited by mboyett; 8/24/07 at 5:39 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 8/24/07, 7:12 AM
rwand1 rwand1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Caledon, ON
Posts: 7,987
Please Note: rwand1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Judging by the picture the flex tupe is the wrong size for the appliance. Note the fitting on the hard gas line. Plus the flex tube doesn't look like its plastic coated. I don't like the fact the shut off requires a wrench, it should be an actual valve with afixed handle.

The gas line extends to far up the wall. Most I see terminate just above the floor.

These are not flared fittings.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 8/24/07, 8:22 AM
David P. Valley's Avatar
David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: METHUEN, MA
Posts: 8,475
Default Re: Appliance connector

If anything is wrong here, it would be that the Plumber should have shortened the gas supply line to this dryer. Other than that, it looks good to me.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8/24/07, 8:46 AM
Mark Ellison Mark Ellison is offline
New User
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
Please Note: Mark Ellison is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

My client's gas service was shut off for "improper flex material". She got her keys 3 days ago, moved in and noticed a gas smell, called Enbridge, the Tech came in and found a leak by the furnace and in addition cited; 1/ this gas range connection 2/ metallic (tin foil type) gas dryer vent not to code, which I'm not sure on either, so if you fellas have a comment I'd appreciate that too.

Thanks for your responses,

Mark Ellison
Brampton
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 8/24/07, 8:53 AM
rwand1 rwand1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Caledon, ON
Posts: 7,987
Please Note: rwand1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Mark

I believe metal flex ducting is suitable for gas dryers, or at least thats what it says on the package.

While solid ducting is preferable, it is sometimes necessary to use the metal flex because of the confines of the venting. You cannot attach solid ducting as it limits the removal of the dryer for servicing.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 8/24/07, 9:05 AM
David P. Valley's Avatar
David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: METHUEN, MA
Posts: 8,475
Default Re: Appliance connector

There's nothing wrong with that aluminum flexible (tin-foil type) ducting for dryers. I call out the vinyl ducts only.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8/24/07, 11:56 AM
Brian A. MacNeish Brian A. MacNeish is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,526
Please Note: Brian A. MacNeish is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvalley
There's nothing wrong with that aluminum flexible (tin-foil type) ducting for dryers. I call out the vinyl ducts only.
You should check into this, David.

There is corrugated aluminum flex duct which is quite different than the tin foil type. The "tin foil" type you refer to may be aluminized or metalized polyester ducting which probably is not approved for carrying hot combustion gases from a gas dryer.

Just my guess at this since we are just beginning to get natural gas here and I have to upgrade my skills. Have never even seen a gas dryer yet.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8/24/07, 11:57 AM
rwand1 rwand1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Caledon, ON
Posts: 7,987
Please Note: rwand1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

The aluminum/polyester flex exhaust is ULC approved and fire rated for exhausting gas and electric dryers.

Its name is Pro Flex.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 8/24/07, 12:06 PM
rwand1 rwand1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Caledon, ON
Posts: 7,987
Please Note: rwand1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

http://www.dundasjafine.com/products/proflex/index.html
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 8/24/07, 12:11 PM
Brian A. MacNeish Brian A. MacNeish is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,526
Please Note: Brian A. MacNeish is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Quote:
Originally Posted by rwand1
The aluminum/polyester flex exhaust is ULC approved and fire rated for exhausting gas and electric dryers.

Its name is Pro Flex.
As I said, check it out:

From the Proflex website:

In the past, the most common practice for venting clothes dryers was the use of vinyl ducting. Although vinyl ducting is suitable for bathroom fan applications and general purpose exhausting it is not recommended for clothes dryer venting. ProFlex is U.L. 2158A Listed as a Clothes Dryer Transition Duct. It is designed to vent both gas and electric dryers. It is made from a fire resistant 4 ply aluminum foil laminate. ProFlex is available in dryer vent kits as well as multiple length ducting.

The aluminized or metalized polyester are not recommended. Even the two ply aluminum foil laminate is not recommended for dryers!

Flexible Metalized Foil Ducting

- Class 1 Air Connector


  • Ideal for use in general purpose exhaust applications including bathroom fans.
  • Maximum operating temperature is 250° F.
  • Made from a 2 ply aluminum foil laminate.
  • Not Recommended for Clothes Dryer Venting.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 8/24/07, 1:04 PM
rwand1 rwand1 is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Caledon, ON
Posts: 7,987
Please Note: rwand1 is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Thats not what it says, we are talking about 3 or 4 ply, not 2 ply

http://www.dundasjafine.com/products...itionduct.html

Check it out.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 8/24/07, 3:13 PM
David P. Valley's Avatar
David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: METHUEN, MA
Posts: 8,475
Default Re: Appliance connector

Very simply....If it's not combustible and doesn't melt, it's fine.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 8/24/07, 3:46 PM
relliott's Avatar
relliott relliott is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: HARWOOD HTS, il
Posts: 8,570
Please Note: relliott is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Appliance connector

Mark I am glad I stumbled upon this thread.
That looks like a brass flex connector and is extremely dangerous.
How the gas company missed it I do not know.
This is an explosion waiting to happen.Have it removed immediately.
Danger

Last edited by relliott; 8/24/07 at 3:51 PM..
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Gas and oil hot water tank and Boiler Share Vents hvanderbeek Misc. Discussion 8 1/25/07 5:22 PM
Space At Units sparks HVAC 5 1/8/07 1:57 PM
Another reason to recommend CO testers rnewman1 Interior 2 10/12/06 7:47 AM
Appliance connector in crawl space jfunderburk Plumbing 11 6/16/06 5:12 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 1:38 PM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Popular

Membership

Inspection Standards

Education

Chapters & Members

Articles & Links

Other Organizations

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts