Bunny Laroche
New Member
Hi. We installed a new hot water heating (hydronic) system this year and it has been running deliriously fantastic. However, my GF has noticed that a considerable amount of ice is starting to build up around the 2" exhaust and air intake pipes immediately where they exit the house.
The pipes exit through a piece of treated plywood that covers an old basement window. The pipes come out of holes in the plywood about 12 inches above grade. A 90 degree elbow in each pipe, installed immediately upon exiting the house, orients the pipes vertically for an additional 24 inches. 45 degree fittings are then positioned the end of each pipe, oriented in opposite directions (about 5 and 7 o'clock), about 6-8 inches apart.
Although there is a noticeable drip of condensate from the exhaust pipe, the dripping condensate is captured and does not pose any problems (so far). The ice build up that is somewhat concerning is forming all around the two pipes right where they exit the house. In addition to forming between the pipes, the ice is also adhering to the plywood through which the pipes exit. Insulation in the framework on the interior side of this plywood also has enough frost/ice build up to have frozen the batted insulation to the interior side of the plywood so that it cannot be pulled back.
Our primary concern is whether or not there is any ice build up inside either of the pipes. If so, how we might best go about melting it in order that the boiler does not go into a protective shut down mode if it can not either exhaust or intake?
My GF tried to fish a tape through the pipes to determine whether or not she could detect any ice build up on the inside of the pipes. As far as she could get the fish tape, past two 90 degree elbows to right about where the pipe exists the plywood, the fish tape did not appear to be hitting upon any ice, but we are not absolutely convinced since the fish tape stopped short.
Is the ice build up outside the pipes anything to be overly concerned about? Could the ice crack the pipes maybe? Or might ice around the pipes induce ice to form on the inside of the pipes if it has not already begun or done so?
Would it be a good idea to try and melt the ice build up around the pipes outside? My GF is an electrician and is proficient using both a heat gun as well as a propane torch if it is required or could help. Perhaps just pouring boiling hot water over the ice formation and pulling the ice away from the pipes and plywood, drying whatever moisture is left behind afterward, would be a better way to deal with the problem?
We are also concerned about the possibility that melting moisture could at some point run down inside the air intake pipe where the gas combustion occurs, causing possible problems later on?
Do you think the ice build up is simply due to condensation building up on the outside of the exhaust pipe as the warm air in the pipe meets the cold air outside?
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and happy New Year everybody.
The pipes exit through a piece of treated plywood that covers an old basement window. The pipes come out of holes in the plywood about 12 inches above grade. A 90 degree elbow in each pipe, installed immediately upon exiting the house, orients the pipes vertically for an additional 24 inches. 45 degree fittings are then positioned the end of each pipe, oriented in opposite directions (about 5 and 7 o'clock), about 6-8 inches apart.
Although there is a noticeable drip of condensate from the exhaust pipe, the dripping condensate is captured and does not pose any problems (so far). The ice build up that is somewhat concerning is forming all around the two pipes right where they exit the house. In addition to forming between the pipes, the ice is also adhering to the plywood through which the pipes exit. Insulation in the framework on the interior side of this plywood also has enough frost/ice build up to have frozen the batted insulation to the interior side of the plywood so that it cannot be pulled back.
Our primary concern is whether or not there is any ice build up inside either of the pipes. If so, how we might best go about melting it in order that the boiler does not go into a protective shut down mode if it can not either exhaust or intake?
My GF tried to fish a tape through the pipes to determine whether or not she could detect any ice build up on the inside of the pipes. As far as she could get the fish tape, past two 90 degree elbows to right about where the pipe exists the plywood, the fish tape did not appear to be hitting upon any ice, but we are not absolutely convinced since the fish tape stopped short.
Is the ice build up outside the pipes anything to be overly concerned about? Could the ice crack the pipes maybe? Or might ice around the pipes induce ice to form on the inside of the pipes if it has not already begun or done so?
Would it be a good idea to try and melt the ice build up around the pipes outside? My GF is an electrician and is proficient using both a heat gun as well as a propane torch if it is required or could help. Perhaps just pouring boiling hot water over the ice formation and pulling the ice away from the pipes and plywood, drying whatever moisture is left behind afterward, would be a better way to deal with the problem?
We are also concerned about the possibility that melting moisture could at some point run down inside the air intake pipe where the gas combustion occurs, causing possible problems later on?
Do you think the ice build up is simply due to condensation building up on the outside of the exhaust pipe as the warm air in the pipe meets the cold air outside?
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and happy New Year everybody.