Replies

1. 
   CAGIV | Apr 27, 2003 07:11am | #1

   I am by no means know a lot about HVAC or furnances

   What I do know,

   1. A furnace needs a sourse of air intake

   2. Generally if something is there, it is there for a reason, closing it off is NOT an option

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   Edited 4/27/2003 3:49:30 AM ET by CAG

2. 
   Clay | Apr 27, 2003 07:31am | #2

   One likely possibility is that you and your family members will be found dead by a concerned neighbor and subsequent investigation will reveal that all were victims of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by amateur alterations to the furnace air intake system.

3. 
   NickNukeEm | Apr 27, 2003 03:13pm | #3

   I echo CAGs disclaimer, I'm not a HVAC guy, although I've done a lot of work with various units. 

   Disclaimer aside, my 2 cents worth is, your furnace is a combustion type which needs air to work.  It can draw on the house, but depending on the furnace type (efficiency, etc., not just natural gas,) with no fresh air intake, the furnace would draw air from the house and create a negative pressure (vacuum,) which means makeup air would now be seeping through your doors, windows, bathroom/kitchen exhaust fans, fireplace flues, etc.  

   Although I personally think an 8" outside duct for combustion air may be a little excessive, before you alter the duct in any way, you should call the same people who service your furnace and get their expert opinion.  And if you haven't had it serviced recently, you need to do it ASAP before it malfunctions and creates a CO disaster as previously mentioned.  Every year in the Northeast the news headlines at least one disaster whereby an entire family succumbs to CO poisoning, typically due to a faulty natural gas furnace (or worse, using a gas oven to heat the house.)

   Again, do not touch that duct.  Don't delay, call today.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!