Hi All.
I am getting ready to start some renovations to my basement which essentially will mean enclosing our 40 gal. propane HWH and our 120,000 btu oil fired boiler in a room about 10’x20′. How much air do I need to get to these 2 things in order to operate smoothly. We have a summer/winter hook-up arrangement with the 2 things so rarely would both of them be running at the same time. Thanks in advance.
Shipley
Dangerous electrical work and widespread misconceptions cause fires, deaths, and $1.5 billion in property damage annually.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
Assuming that the appliances had enough combustion air before you enclose them, the simplest way would probably be to have a couple of grilles that will communicate between the newly-enclosed space and the rest of the basement.
Codes require one grille to be located to be located within 12" of the ceiling, and the other to be within 12" if the floor.
The grilles should be sized each with a net free open area of 1 sq. in. per 1000 BTU of input rating (160 sq. in. for your two appliances.)
If that arrangement is impractical or undesirable, then you will need to install ducts that brings in outside air. These can bring air from a ventilated attic or from a ventilated crawl space. What size ducts?
The "code" answer to that is more complicated because you have two different codes that apply--one for the gas-burning WH, and another for the oil-burning furrnace. And, you will have a fairly large furnace room that can be given credit for a large proportion of the needed cumbustion air.
You wil have a very hard time getting an accurate answer, even from (or, especially from) a building inspector.
Many thanks. This gives me a good start by which to measure square inches of opening that I need.
wed
Remember to add together the space under the door/doors to this space for your sq. inches.
Also, how is the joist arrangement, will it be left open. Do the joist spaces communicate with any other air available areas?
If you need to add openings (grilled) and want to limit the noise from one room to another-place the grills as far away from the appliances as possible. It will still draw the air in, just not transmit the noise as easy.