Need Some Duct Advice Around Furnace and Ventilation Issues

I have a 4-story, two-family brownstone. A 12 x 12 duct runs 16 feet between a gooseneck-size opening in back wall and a 12 x 12 hole in wall of furnace room. There is another opening on opposite wall of furnace room, and the typical small opening on the hatch in the front of the building. I want to remove the duct to ventilate the entire cellar. So the small hole in back would be open to the cellar, and the furnace room would have the two open holes to the cellar. Can I remove the duct? I know it’s code but does it really serve any purpose?

homely

in Heating and Cooling 8 years and 8 months ago

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eileengray | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Separate boiler/furnace room is not required in one-two family dwellings.

chinyere.ezie | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Furnace / boiler rooms are supposed to be fire rated separately from the common basement area. The door to the boiler room has to remain closed at all times during operation of the boiler. This is to prevent spread of fire if the boiler / furnace should malfunction. The duct to the outside is to provide adequate air for combustion . Under proper code compliance if the room is properly fire rated and the door is fire labeled and there is no fresh air intake for the boiler it could cause the boiler to constantly shut down or not operate properly.
It is kind of like , if you took a candle and set it on a table and light it. It would burn normally but if you put a jar over the candle it will continue to remain burning until there is no oxygen left. On the other hand if you watch the candle when it starts flickering and is about to go out and lift the jar slightly the flame will burn bright again

homely | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Thanks MDR

MDR | 8 years and 8 months ago

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It is better to have the duct so the furnace has adequate outside air regardless of whether the cellar has ventilation. In most homes the floors are not insulated and you would not want the cellar to be ventilated because that would just make it cold in the winter and you would burn extra fuel trying to keep the house warm. The second vent for the furnace room is not necessary.

homely | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Thanks, MDR. Maybe I didn’t explain. I only have one duct leading to the furnace room from the outside rear wall (they all have a duct to the roof, right). The furnace wall does have another opening but no duct there. Why can’t the room just get its air from the cellar, which in turn has openings to the outside. Why does the room need a duct at all?

MDR | 8 years and 8 months ago

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You should leave one duct, but I don’t see any reason why you would need two ducts for the furnace room, so you could probably remove one if you have a 12 x 12 intake. However if you use the other one for ventilation make sure you have a way to seal it in the winter to avoid cold drafts.