furnace exhaust killing plants furnace exhaust killing plants

Each winter there are several instances of tight greenhouses that have frozen up when the heaters were starved for air and the heat output decreased. I don't think there is much we can do short of spray painting the bushes green and pretending they are healthy! But to do that, you should first be able to find them. We have ferns and hostas growing happily in front of it now. Two types of heat recovery systems that are commonly used with industrial furnaces are recuperators and regenerators. Or the lack of oxygen may cause the flame to go out and the burner to shut off, leading to freeze damage. However, the easiest way to check for CO in your house is to install a special carbon monoxide detector. WebBasically, cold temperatures cause plants to starve. You are inTennessee. Better than a dead bush. The leader in profits, production and education for produce, National Potato Council, Specialty Crop Groups Gear up for 2023 Farm Bill Effort, Nominate a Grower for the 2023 Apple Grower of the Year Award, What Top-Level Food Safety Looks Like at a Vegetable Farm, The Best Green Bean Varieties Youll Want To Grow, How Future of Florida Citrus Might Hinge on Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ian, Opportunities Abound in Using the Cloud To Connect Farmers With Consumers. Cold air blowing directly on plants often strips it of its moisture. I have a strong propane smell in furnace exhaust. WebBasically, cold temperatures cause plants to starve. This South African native grows to between 1 and 3 feet tall and wide and thrives in hot, dry conditions. Ethylene gas is another pollutant formed during combustion. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? Two types of heat recovery systems that are commonly used with industrial furnaces are recuperators and regenerators. Chapman notes that smelting in the copper mining industry is an example of an industry starting to move in this direction. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the recuperator is the most widely used heat recovery device. It has killed one of my bushes. The sick building syndrome cant be directly linked to your HVAC system, but people who spend a lot of time in buildings with central air tend to get sick and suffer from headaches more often. Why? The flue gases usually contain nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate mater. You don't have to use all of the exhaust gas, but you could hook up a regulator or just turn on/off the valve that feeds the gas to the plants. This colorless and odorless gas is harmless when breathed in small amounts (thats what we do all the time), but in enclosed spaces, a high concentration of CO can become extremely dangerous. The exhaust stack (flue) should extend at least 2 feet, preferably 4 feet, above the ridge (highest point) of the greenhouse. Another byproduct is water vapor. Evergreen shrubs add year-round color and those with an upright growth habit form a screen for an outdoor air conditioning unit. I work for a gas utility and have never heard of combustion gases killing plants, in fact some greenhouses remove there venting in winter to help heat the spaces. Ethylene in the Greenhouse: Symptoms, Detection & Prevention. Also, call your furnace maintenance firm to inspect the unit in question. 3 Answers Sorted by: 1 No, it sounds like you have a high efficiency furnace and these will direct vent outside versus using the chimney stack to vent. I know you don't do laundry all the time but it will help a little, better than nothing. He feels this company could reduce that bill by 25%. We installed a high efficiency furnace several years ago and were told that the exhaust would not harm plants or bushes. That excellent idea of yours should be considered by tent growers. Hasn't damaged the shrubbery, but I do need to keep the shrubs trimmed low enough that winter snow won't block the exhaust and intake. When my new furnace was installed, the vent was put outside the house next to landscaping bushes. Any thoughts? There is also an issue with cleaning cooling coils and condensate drains with cleaners to keep them operating properly. Why Nest Thermostat Not Turning On? Follow Up: struct sockaddr storage initialization by network format-string. Unfortunately, even the furnaces that are highly efficient arent able to combust the gas entirely. 2 diesel oil, wood, or some alternative fuel type, the same rules apply. How long ago were the shrubs and bushes planted? Another consideration is that some exhaust products inevitably remain in the vessel to combine with incoming combustion air. Planting near an outdoor air conditioner unit is challenging, because it requires shrubs of certain sizes and shapes that won't block the air flow or cause damage to the air conditioner. If we take a 30' x 100' double poly greenhouse and maintain inside temperature at 60 F on a 0 F night for a 12 hour period, heating with unvented propane or kerosene heaters would add about 22 gallons of moisture to the air and heating with natural gas would add about 16 gallons. With kerosene and propane space heaters (unvented), the potential exists to poison plants with toxic pollutants. Dr. Rick Snyder has been a Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist for 33 years at the Truck Crops Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, P.O. The 14-point pH scale of acidity runs from 0 at the far acidic end to 14 at the far alkaline, or basic, end, with pH 7 denoting a neutral solution. You could replace it with a little mini rock garden or something. We can look at the crop and obtain air samples to verify if ethylene is the problem. Conventional furnaces that are 80% efficient will make the flue pipe extremely hot (the temperature might get up to 400 F). To avoid ethylene injury, greenhouse heaters need proper ventilation and intake of fresh air from the outside. My high efficiency furnace vents warm (not hot) moist air. It grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 and grows to 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. One of the byproducts of combustion is carbon dioxide which can enhance plant growth. The exhaust system typically uses metal venting, often routed into a chimney stack, to exhaust the combustion gases created in the furnace fire chamber. This partial combustion leads to the formation of various byproducts, starting from nitrogen dioxide and ending with carbon monoxide. Other common venting questions: Try this checklist for proper maintenance. You have to make sure that there is no rust developing on your flue pipe as it can lead to holes. We installed a high efficiency furnace several years ago and were told that the exhaust would not harm plants or bushes. This colorless and odorless gas is harmless when breathed in small amounts (thats what we do all the time), but in enclosed spaces, a high concentration of CO can become extremely dangerous. And Why? 1. And even if screening is installed, it will corrode into rust flakes within a year or two. Any thoughts? The dosage effect of ethylene on impatiens. WebHowever after the second year the furnace exhaust killed the top 1/3 of one holly. A recuperator is a gas-to-gas heat exchanger that is installed on the furnace exhaust that preheats incoming 1. Lastly, research your plants temperature and humidity needs. High Efficiency Furnace exhaust and plants. The vent is pointing upwards and the bushes have actually started dying off in in sections around the exhaust pipe so there is acutally green on the far side of some of the bushes and dry and brown on the side near the pipe. However, tighter greenhouses are more likely to allow buildup of toxic gases. Check for leaks by placing a smoke bomb or furnace candle within the firebox. It is basically a purpose-designed S-shaped pipe that moves the vent further up. I would agree with Keep it simple stupid, I would call your local gas supplier and have them send out a leakage inspector. A more likely problem is killing a treasured plant with exhaust gases. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. A heater that has been serviced in the fall will probably not be at peak efficiency as spring approaches. However, keep in mind that 1% is 10,000 times bigger than 1 ppm. Care should taken if you install unvented heaters. Visit Alabama. They usually have to work on the exact same atmospheric pressure to operate correctly. According to Jim Roberts from Eclipse, in recent years an important improvement in furnace heat recovery is development of self-recuperative burners, such as Eclipses ThermaJetdesign. Common early symptoms are drooping tomato leaves, although they are still turgid and not wilted. Are you insane? Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. So, check your plants location. Quite a few run CO2, and there's an awesome tankless hot water heater setup that produces CO2, fully detailed in these very forums. Never allow gases to remain inside the greenhouse. Cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), which is also called cape plumbago, is a small evergreen shrub that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. Never allow gases to remain inside the greenhouse. However, plants that bloom once like lilies, tulips and hyacinths will likely not bloom if they have been exposed to ethylene when they were in the flower bud stage. And Why? This is generally true if the burner is clean and has been adjusted to top efficiency. He says, This is the culmination of 20 years of development in the marketplace to get burners that not only eject a hot stream of gases, but bring the exhaust gases back through the burner to recover heat normally lost to the flue.. I had a "plume diverter kit" fitted to my vent. This can be reduced by faster cycle times or the use of multiple vessels at various stages of cooling. So, if a tester reads less than 1%, all that means is that there is under 10,000 ppm of ethylene. You can size the air intake for the heating unit with a simple formula: use 50 square inches of intake for each 100,000 BTUs of the heating system. Check for leaks by painting soapy water on the joints and seams. I'm concerned that the exhaust could harm the bush and also that the corrosive gas could tarnish the A/C. However, he also points out that for operators with site emission permits written on a lb/MMBtu basis, recuperation allows the use of more furnace capacity, hence increased productivity. Share Improve this answer Follow answered Jun 5, 2014 at 14:18 Steven 27.3k 9 51 86 3 I kind of thought it would be a bad idea but I'm glad i checked twice. If you have a heat pump or an electric heater, you can ignore this advice. I think it just thawed it out during winter at that spot. The bushes are all well established 15+ years old. I am in the heating and cooling trade and the reason for the plants to die is because the exhaust pipe is probably pointing down which will drie up the soil that they are in. I keep the area around my funace very clean and I open up and clean it out regularly. Tomato plants are very sensitive to certain pollutants found in the exhaust from fossil fuels. Any thoughts? When designing the greenhouse layout, make sure the intake vent from one greenhouse is not close to the exhaust stack of another one. and act as the last layer of warning. A heater that has been serviced in the fall will probably not be at peak efficiency as spring approaches. No other air pollutant causes a greater range of symptoms than ethylene gas. I'm concerned that the exhaust could harm the bush and also that the corrosive gas could tarnish the A/C. Currently I have 4" steel exhaust pipe coming from my DUKANE MPGA075B3 (75.000 BTUs) (AFUE% = 80%) You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. A conventional natural gas furnace will vent the dangerous combustion gases through a simple vertical exhaust system that is attached to the furnace. The flame should burn clear blue. Yes, furnace exhaust does contain carbon monoxide as it is created during the process of burning gas. With relatively clean natural gas combustion exhaust, these heat exchange surfaces may even be finned or dimpled to capture the maximum amount of heat. lost in a matter of hours. And even if screening is installed, it will corrode into rust flakes within a year or two. WebIt is a way that we locate leaks when suspected. some people need to learn the difference between C02 and C0. Levels as low a part per million (ppm) can cause injury on some plants. Make the panel a decorative part of your garden design and folks wont even know you have a vent there. Difference between "select-editor" and "update-alternatives --config editor". Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? The newest high efficiency heaters have fresh air intake systems as part of the installation kit. As an example he cites a Tier 2 automotive manufacturer that has a plant with a monthly energy bill of $200,000 per month. When you understand the conditions your plants need to thrive, you can make better decisions about where you place them and how you care for them. Carbon Monoxide will kill a household (humans too) swiftly. Tomatoes will exhibit injury within 24 hours if ethylene is present. Also, there seems to be a gurgling sound that I did not notice previously. Here is the formula for burning natural gas. Jim Roberts from Eclipse notes, Sometimes the cost looks staggering, but remember that most furnaces have a very active running schedule, so the paybacks, even at low gas costs, can be very fast. In fact, 1 ppm (part per million) of ethylene or carbon monoxide can cause serious damage. We have ferns and hostas growing happily in front of it now. Usually, if you smell gas, you should get alarmed. You are inAlabama. Why Is AC Mini Split Making Noise When Off? Never allow gases to remain inside the greenhouse. We had the vent relocated a few years ago due to some construction we were doing and the same thing happened in both locations. A disadvantage is that the heat content of the incoming air has some variation, making precise combustion control more difficult. Also, greenhouse heaters need to be maintained so that the heater itself is running properly and the distribution tube, vent stack, ventilation louvers and fuel line are all functioning correctly. Other less likely, but possible sources of ethylene are from combustion engines outside the greenhouse (cars and trucks parked just outside, forklifts, etc.) Using gas chromatography, the air samples can be assessed for ethylene levels and other hydrocarbons such as methane and propane, which is helpful in discovery of leaks in gas supply lines and leaks in the heat exchangers. A recuperator is a gas-to-gas heat exchanger that is installed on the furnace exhaust that preheats incoming If its placed near an air conditioning vent, you may want to move it to another room or area that either isnt being air conditioned or is far away from an air vent. etc. Our shrubs in the surrounding area are slowly dying off. Is furnace exhaust dangerous? Yes, furnace exhaust does contain carbon monoxide as it is created during the process of burning gas. Energy reduction equals emission reduction. At this point, it might be easiest to just accept that you're not going to have a bush there. High Efficiency Furnace exhaust and plants. WebBasically, cold temperatures cause plants to starve. But dont increase your homes humidity just to save your plants. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. In any event, the use of unvented space heaters is too risky for the commercial greenhouse grower. WebOne is that if a condensate drain is draining water from a high-efficiency furnace, this water can be acidic and damage plants. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Installation Cost? First and foremost, vent all burners to the outside. Yellow or orange flames represent impurities or a wrong setting. 3 Answers Sorted by: 1 No, it sounds like you have a high efficiency furnace and these will direct vent outside versus using the chimney stack to vent. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A common problem occurs when the company sends out a rep with a tester that measures in percentages rather than ppm and states that there is no reading, meaning that the air is ethylene free. There are three differenty types of bushes in the area and we are having the same problem with all of them. Look for any pattern along the gas pipe route if nearby. You would have to regularly check your unit to ensure that these components are not damaged. This colorless and odorless gas is harmless when breathed in small amounts (thats what we do all the time), but in enclosed spaces, a high concentration of CO can become extremely dangerous. 1. Plants are very susceptible to ethylene injury at levels from 0.01 to 1 ppm or more. Can my Furnace and Water Heater share an exhaust? This is a sign of too much moisture. The only thing I would do is rout your dryer vent into the room during the winter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the recuperator is the most widely used heat recovery device. I think it just thawed it out during winter at that spot. A heater that has been serviced in the fall will probably not be at peak efficiency as spring approaches. These chemicals can damage plants. These fuels are advertised as clean-burning. Tankless Water Heater Exhaust Killing Plants By Andy Johnson | November 26, 2015 0 Comment [post_title] $1184.00 Description: Estrada cited a recent report from the federal electricity commission on plans to build new carbon plants, a tankless water heater, ruining their livelihoods and even killing residents. In the worst-case scenario, the exhaust from your furnace can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Another important factor to consider before planting is the mature size of the shrub and its growth habit. WebGrasses and perennials that grow more than 6 inches high should also be planted at least 2 to 3 feet away from the base of the unit because ventilation for the unit is also drawn from that area. For example, you canbuild a terrariumthat allows you to still view and enjoy the plants but helps keep out colder temps and dry air. The matrices may be ceramic or metallic. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Be sure your recuperator design takes into account the specific characteristics of your furnace operation. I have noted plant injury symptoms more often in plastic greenhouses compared to glass greenhouses due to the airtight nature of poly-greenhouses. Can I remove a furnace compartment vent that's obstructing roof repair? Could wind be causing my high efficiency furnace exhaust to back up into the house? But beware of swollen plant leaves or water spots that turn red or brown. Repairs should be made as soon as possible. Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? Photo source:www.repotme.com. This will restore some of the moisture that is stripped from your homes air. If not cut the pipe right up against the fitting and prime and glue a PVC 90 pointing up, use PVC because it is a high efficienty furnace. The shrubs you choose must also be heat-tolerant to withstand the hot air blown from the unit while its running, but you do have several options for shrubs that can thrive in hot environments. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. The installer is going to put the PVC pipes about two feet away from a cherry bush, actually midway between the bush and the A/C compressor. Want some help? You can invite a professional to perform an indoor air quality test (this will help figure out if you have a leak or not). Our shrubs in the surrounding area are slowly dying off. So, be on the lookout for ethylene symptoms and fix the problem before its too late. CO symptoms are often described as flu-like. If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This is generally true if the burner is clean and has been adjusted to top efficiency. Note: My experience is in the UK where terminology differs from that used in the US. Usually excess air is needed to get complete combustion as greater mixing occurs and more of the fuel particles will make contact with the oxygen. The major pollutants that result from burning kerosene are nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde. Peace. I don't think it's a bad idea at all. If you dump it outside, it will kill plants, grass anything that it comes in contact with." Experts recommend taking a break from time to time to have a walk outside. Clearly, energy savings are not always enough. Not sure if your home is as dry as it should be? Two types of heat recovery systems that are commonly used with industrial furnaces are recuperators and regenerators. If you suspect ethylene injury is occurring, contact your local MSU Extension floriculture educator. :confused: One side I have a black, white and red wire which goes to the plug. Can I move this outside vent to the roof vent? Check out the MSU Agricultural Operations Program! Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. WebDuring very cold and windy weather the screening collects ice, blocking the vent and causing a furnace shutdown. WebGrasses and perennials that grow more than 6 inches high should also be planted at least 2 to 3 feet away from the base of the unit because ventilation for the unit is also drawn from that area. It's one thing to clear up a mistake, such as mine, but it's going overboard to start picking when someone is TRYING to help. WebOne is that if a condensate drain is draining water from a high-efficiency furnace, this water can be acidic and damage plants. WebHowever after the second year the furnace exhaust killed the top 1/3 of one holly. You should inspect and clean the intake and exhaust pipes from time to time. It is a way that we locate leaks when suspected. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario. These fuels are advertised as clean-burning. Thanks for sharing! All these tiny particles will end up in the air that you breathe, as soon as the furnace gets switched on. You do not have access to www.jlconline.com. A conventional natural gas furnace will vent the dangerous combustion gases through a simple vertical exhaust system that is attached to the furnace. Mine haven't complained yet. ); carbon monoxide is especially dangerous as this invisible, odorless gas can lead to poisoning. The regenerator alternates the hot and cold flows so heat recovery is continuous. This will likely cause one greenhouse to pull in contaminated exhaust from the other. Tomatoes and white petunias are very sensitive to this and will show signs in as little as one hour. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This site is maintained by Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment in the College of Natural Sciences. In any furnace operation, heat is lost from the furnace skin, from heated product leaving the treatment area, from conveyer or pusher equipment, from excessive draft and from open doors or other access points. How do you know if you have ethylene damage on your greenhouse tomatoes? Although less commonly used than recuperators, regenerators are still widely used in high temperature furnaces such as glass and steel reheat furnaces. If the color of your plants leaves is fading or if the leaves are wilting, it could be because the plant is too close to an air conditioning vent. Why Furnace Blower Motor Is Making Noise When Starting? Especially, if there are gaps in the ductwork, through which unfiltered air can get sucked in. I think it just thawed it out during winter at that spot. Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded? Cold air blowing directly on plants often strips it of its moisture. We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Check for cracks by inspecting for light penetration while the furnace is running. Before you throw out your indoor greenery (or swear off air conditioning if youre REALLY serious about your plants) well give you some tips on how to ensure the two coexist peacefully. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the recuperator is the most widely used heat recovery device. Instead,make sure youmist your plants leaves every day. Instead, I just get insulted! Yes, a heating system that is not properly maintained can make you feel sick. WebOne is that if a condensate drain is draining water from a high-efficiency furnace, this water can be acidic and damage plants. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It can be a very dangerous situation depending on the size of the leak We installed a high efficiency furnace several years ago and were told that the exhaust would not harm plants or bushes. When I installed mine, we did have the option of exhausting up to the roof through the existing chimney but we would have had to re-line the chimney, since the chemistry of the gas condensing boiler's exhaust is different from that of the oil boiler it replaced. Sometimes a grower may be caught by a sudden cold snap in the fall and not have the heater in a new greenhouse installed yet. How far away from the vent pipe are the shrubs dying? Just make sure when you go in there, you may be breathing it to.