While I was out, my plumber installed the vent for the radiant heat boiler in our new addition. He drilled a hole in the foundation instead of through the rim joist or through the exterior wall. Does this make any sense? The addition is on a slope, so there is about three feet of foundation showing at present. We planned to put in a retaining wall in the Spring to bring the grade up. In addition, we get lots of snow and I’m concerned about keeping the vent clear once the grading is done.
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First, does it make sence to core through concrete if you have other choices? Not to me. Second, if you bring the grade up, how high above the grade will the rim joist be?
You should have made it clear what you planned to do and discussed this with the installer before this was done. Typical good practice for sidewall venting is to stay 18" above grade OR the expected snow level. You didn't mention what type of vent were talking about. My condensing furnace vents through a concentric vent terminal and melts no snow under it. My draft-induced gas water heater vents through an aluminum wall cap and keeps the snow clear 2 feet around it. In my neck of the woods, 2 ft of snow on the ground accumulated through winter is about the max to expect. My vents do not confor to the guidelines outlined above, so I keep an eye on them through the winter. If snow removal is required, that's what I do.
First...a dummy smack for you for not making sure the plumber knew where to run the vent before you left the house.
Secondly...get a hold of the manufacturers installation procedures and determine the proper manner and location of termination.
If the guidelines require the vent to finish in a particular location that will be affected after you regrade, have the plumber move it. It`ll cost you....unless its determined that he didn't run it properly to begin with.
Good luck.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
The termination outside is also a building code issue. The inspector is not going to approve it if he thinks that snow will pile up at the outlet. He may not *know* that snow will pile up there, because the retaining hasn't been done, but SMS knows.
We probably need some more information here. To me, it makes no sense that the plumber drilled the concrete for what must be at least a 3" pipe, when he could have drilled the rim joist is much less time. There may be some reason for that. Maybe it's that he's working by the hour and had no other job to go to. Or, he may not have had the parts to go up and out thru the rim. Or, he may know something we don't.
There is also the issue of how close the vent can be to opening windows and doors, air inlets, etc.