"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message news:45da72f0$1$18855$ snipped-for-privacy@roadrunner.com...
Point #!, I don't care if the pipe is 300 ft wide, you don't even really have to connect the pipe up if your combustion air is ample and correctly sized to the room On discharge air their are maximums, unless you are smart enough to design it so 4" will work (I'm speaking of Trane Equipment) I have had to redo some competators installs and designed a system that the factory itself approaved using 6" pipe because we had to exceed the length of the run past the factory listed design criteria.
Point #2. It was REDUCED going outside to 2 1-2 " So the snow according to you would have a more difficult time entering the pipe. Point #3 He stated that there was a trap to collect the water ON THE SUPPLY pipe, if it worked or not; I can't see it from here. Point #4 The larger IINTAKE pipe would not be te problem with a pressure switch locking out Point #5 The poster was asked what size the discharge pipe was, we still don't know. This should give you a little direction as to what is happening here, espeicially if it too was reduced. Point #6 The homeowner stated:I cleaned the Remote Sensor and the spark ignition and sensor and it seemed to work for about 4 days before it shut down again." So, stormy, I guess its magic I presume that cleaning the sensor caused all your snow and clogged pipes to disappear? I also guess that its magic that it worked for four days after doing so and then got worse after the sensors coating, being rubbed off by the homeowner couldn't sense flame any longer? Point #7 NOT knowing where he lives I still doubt that snow on the INTAKE pipe causing a plug is very limited seeing that it was 2" going outside Point#8 I have come accross discharge pipes plugging up with ice on the opening when its -20 for extended days, but I doubt this happened here, typical when running through a cold area of over 4 feet such as an attic run, BTW, stormy, this is critical for sizing pipes, you need to insulate the vent that runs through unconditioned spaces. But this sounds like its in the conditioned space Point 9 Could be restriction in pipe, bird, 'CAT" ( sorry Paul) rat, LEAVES. Point 10 If the trap has water in it, AND its installed correctly AND if there was so much snow in such a short run he would have water indicated in the burner section Point 11, I'm not sure if Rheem has a filter screen on their intake chamber, this is a potential Point 12, the service man checked inlet and outlet pressures, never was told ON WHAT. I'm assuming the gas pressures, which is nice but more important would be the vent and make up air pressures.
So, getting back to your original statement, NO, the intake size doesn't mean anything , if its 2 1/2 or 2 inch going outside its installed wrong, period, but this would not increase the snow problem any more than running
2" all the way.Its smart to have the vent installed correctly, and according to manufactures specs unless the manufacturer signs off as they did on the three furnaces I worked on years back
Second, checking the pressure being seen on all pressure switch's is important
Third, if theres moisture in the trap, then theres probably mositure in that pressure switch and its rusted up, I would put my chips on this
Fourth, sensors/ignitors are cheap, measure the voltage, position of sensor since the homeowner may have worked on it in the past and bent it out of the flame pattern.
Conclusion, "Its bad gas, call the gas company!"