Real Estate Blog - You're Looking At A Fire Hazard

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You're Looking At A Fire Hazard

Natural gas and propane furnaces are usually vented with B vents. A B vent is a double-wall vent, so it can have tighter clearances to combustibles than single wall vents or metal chimneys.

But, just the same, it requires one inch of clearance, minimum, from flammables. Especially when people put water heaters in attached sheds, we find clearance issues.

A casual glance at the photo makes it all too clear that this water heater B vent is in contact with the OSB, a flammable. This contact is only a few feet above the water heater so we know that the vent gets hot. Remember, B vents require at least one inch clearance from flammables and that includes insulation in the attic. Life throws enough unexpected curves without playing it careless and dumb.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

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Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector on 11/10/2009 11:49 PM

Comments (27)

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27 Comments on You're Looking At A Fire Hazard

NOV

Steven,

That must have been a post-inspection installation. That would never pass here.

We don't have furnaces here but we do have water heaters. We have lots of those who don't worry about codes.

I have found over the years that one of the most important benifits of having a good home inspection is the identification of fire hazards.

Over the years, home inspectors have identified many fire hazards in homes under contract.

Needless to say, these defects are addressed in the home inspection report. When we find a recalcitrant seller, all we can do is wonder what other defects exist.

Steven, thank you for the alert. I once had a buyer pass on a home inspection of a newly constructed home. It had a gas fireplace (propane). When winter came and he called the gas company to fill the propane tank, the gas company told him that the gas line configuration/tank placement/concrete pad were not up to fire code. They would not deliver the gas to him until he fixed it. By that time, the builder was in bankruptcy.

Had he done the home inspection as recommended...you know the rest of the story.

Steven, thanks for this blog, especially the photo. You may have saved some homes with this warning.

Steven, thanks for adding the picture, out here in rural Pa I have seen people do this very same thing with wood stove pipe...talk about a fire hazard. Come this time of the year and people are firing up the wood stoves seems like that fire alarm is going off a bit more often than in summer. Thanks for info

Thanks for the tips!

Hi Steven -- That is why a good home inspector will never want for work, it's something that cannot be automated nor outsourced offshore.

Steven,

Yes over the years my inspectors have pointed out many issues such as fire hazards of all types that look harmless enough with an untrained eye.

Thanks for the "heads up" today. I always push to have my buyers get a home inspection done. It's like lif insurance.....you may need it.

Patricia Aulson/Seacoast NH

Steven - This particular issue is one of the most common that we see on inspection reports here in the Austin area. I am amazed at how many times they are installed without proper clearance.

Good information. May I also add that this is the time of year we see fires and many can be prevented by making sure you have a working smoke detector(s) in the home. What a good way to farm your past clients by sending them a postcard with some seasonal tips to keep their family safe!

Thanks,

Hey Steve---get out of bed and answer your commenters:)

Charlie was right. I just got up and now I have to leave for an inspection.

Too many Realtors rant about inspectors. Like Realtors they are not all the same. However, their job is to protect the buyer, but in that process they protect a seller who has something like a fire hazard, and they protect the Realtors who job is also to protect their clients from liability.

This is why I feel that home inspections are a must on all homes in every type of sale.

Nutsy, I am documenting that you never thanked me for your Halloween make over. But because I am a special and unique person, I have posted about your bad fur anyway today.

Ms Kate www.alive-and-well-in-las-vegas-nevada.net

Great info and I wasn't aware of that so that is great to know...

You wouldn't believe how often I see this same issue during my inspections. Since heaters aren't used daily in this area, it seems like inspectors don't worry about it!

You might also mention, Steve, about pyrolisys. Someone could say that the B-vent doesn't get hot enough to light off wood. As we both know, high temperatures, over time, actually lowers the combustion temperature of the wood dramatically. There just is no excuse for this kind of thing.

Nice call, Steve. While it is all too common for clearance issues to be pointed out, it is also just as importent to remember that we, as inspectors, can point things out as hazards which have no effect when it comes to enforceability. I would have followed up the observation with the fact that I believed that there could be an issue with this, and recommend inspection by a munifipal building or fire inspector.

Good info, Steve. Thanks!

Hey Steven,

Do you know if this was a diy installation? Sometimes the diyers in certain things can cause more harm than good.

Nice catch Steve. This could turn into a serious situation. Those pipes do get very hot.

David,

I think I saw pyrolysis in action recently. Charlie has been saying mean stuff for months now and my assistant Nutsy is now doing a slow burn.

Eric,

Certainly was do it yourself, but not by me.

NOV

Steve - Yup, I just had a deal dealyed because upon final inspection for an unrelated CO the town building inspector called this out as a fire hazard.

So, if the hole in the ceiling is square, does an A vent square times a B vent square equal a C vent square?

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