Connecticut Home Inspector
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • Unbiased
  • Reviews
  • Radon Testing
  • Water Testing
  • FAQ
  • Info and tips
    • Blog
    • 15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own
    • 10 Ways To Save Energy
    • Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation
    • Acid Rain
    • Adjustable Steel Columns
    • Advantages of Solar Energy
    • Aging in Place
    • Aluminum Siding
    • Aluminum Wiring
    • Ants
    • Anti-Scald Valves
    • Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
    • Asbestos
    • Asbestos in Vermiculite
    • Attic Pull-Down Ladders
    • Backdrafting
    • Backflow Prevention
    • Barbeque Safety
    • Basement Waterproofing
    • Bathroom Vents
    • Bats
    • Bed Bugs
    • Bethel Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Biological Pollutants
    • Brookfield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Bug Zappers
    • Building a Home
    • Building Cavities Used as Supply or Return Ducts
    • Buying a Foreclosure
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Carpeted Bathrooms
    • Central Humidifiers
    • Central Vacuum
    • Central Air-Conditioning Systems
    • Child-Proofing
    • Chinese Drywall
    • Clothing Moths
    • Collar Ties
    • Condensation in Double-Paned Windows
    • Crumbling Foundations in CT
    • Danbury Condo Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Danbury Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Electrical Conductor Types
    • Electric Heat / Condensation
    • Electrical Panels
    • EMFs in the Home
    • Energy Conservation
    • Energy-Efficient Houses
    • Engineered Wood Flooring
    • Exterior Design Features
    • Factory-Built Fireplaces
    • Fairfield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • FHA Loan Basics
    • Fire Safety
    • Foreclosures
    • Foreclosure Inspections
    • Formaldehyde
    • Foundation Insulation
    • Galvanic Corrosion
    • Garages
    • Garage Doors and Openers
    • Garage Fire Containment
    • GFCI's
    • Gutters
    • How To Choose a Home Inspector
    • Ice Dams
    • Infrared Inspections
    • Insulation
    • Knob and Tube
    • Links and Resources
    • Manufactured Homes
    • Newtown Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • New Milford Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Oil Burners
    • Plumbing Terms
    • Ridgefield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Roofing
    • Scope of a Home Inspection
    • Sealing / insulating
    • Septic
    • Siding and Insects
    • Stamford Water Contamination
    • Termites
    • Typical Inspection
    • Underground Oil Tanks
    • Vinyl Siding
    • Water Quality
    • Water Softeners
    • Water Softener Backwash
    • Water Wells
    • What Should a Home Inspection Cost?

Backdrafting

Backdrafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. Many fuel-fired water heaters and boilers use household air and lack an induced draft, which makes them especially vulnerable to backdrafting when indoor air pressure becomes unusually low. 

How does backdrafting happen?
 
Fuel-fired water heaters, boilers, wall heaters, and furnaces are designed to exhaust the byproducts of combustion to the outdoors through a flue. These hot gases rise through the flue and exit the home because they are not as dense as indoor air. The pressure differential that allows for the release of combustion gases can be overcome by unusually low indoor air pressure caused by a high rate of expulsion of air into the outdoors through exhaust fans, fireplaces and dryers. When this happens, combustion gases can be sucked back into the house and may potentially harm or kill building occupants. Improperly configured flues or flue blockages can also cause backdrafting.

Devices that can cause backdrafting include dryers, hot water heaters, bathroom and kitchen fans.

Types of fuel-fired water heaters: 
  • Atmospheric DraftMost backdrafting is the result of the characteristics of this type of water heater. Combustion gases rise through the ventilation duct solely by the force of convection, which might not be strong enough to counter the pull from dips in indoor air pressure.
  • Induced Draft
    This system incorporates a fan that creates a controlled draft. The potential for backdrafting is reduced because the induced draft is usually strong enough to overcome any competing pull from an indoor air-pressure drop.  
  • Sealed Combustion
    The combustion and venting systems are completely sealed off from household air. Combustion air is drawn in from the outdoors through a pipe that is designed for that purpose. The potential for backdrafting is nearly eliminated because the rate of ventilation is not influenced by indoor air pressure, and the vented gas has no pathway into the home.

    Water Heater Location
    The installation of fuel-fired water heaters in particular household locations can increase the chances of personal harm caused by backdrafting. The 2006 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) states the following concerning improper location: Fuel-fired water heaters shall not be installed in a room used as a storage closet. Water heaters located in a bedroom or bathroom shall be installed in a sealed enclosure so that combustion air will not be taken from the living space.

​
Looking for an independent Connecticut Home Inspector? Contact Allied Home Inspections LLC - "Inspected Once, Inspected Right!" 
 House - Condo - Real Estate - Building Inspections
Termites - Ants - Septic

Water Testing - Radon Testing - Infrared IR Inspections
Licensed and Certified - Independent
Locally Owned and Operated
"Inspected Once, Inspected Right!"


Allied Home Inspections LLC
41 Linda Lane
Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: 203-748-0400
Tom@Allied123.com

Danbury CT Home Inspector | Connecticut Home Inspections
​Allied Home Inspections LLC
Business Hours 8AM to 9PM Monday - Saturday
FAQ's

Servicing Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Easton, Fairfield, Hamden, Kent, Middlebury, Monroe,
New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Seymour, Shelton, Sherman,
Southbury, Stratford, Trumbull, Warren, Weston, Westport, and Wilton Connecticut

​© Allied Home Inspections LLC 2021
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • Unbiased
  • Reviews
  • Radon Testing
  • Water Testing
  • FAQ
  • Info and tips
    • Blog
    • 15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own
    • 10 Ways To Save Energy
    • Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation
    • Acid Rain
    • Adjustable Steel Columns
    • Advantages of Solar Energy
    • Aging in Place
    • Aluminum Siding
    • Aluminum Wiring
    • Ants
    • Anti-Scald Valves
    • Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
    • Asbestos
    • Asbestos in Vermiculite
    • Attic Pull-Down Ladders
    • Backdrafting
    • Backflow Prevention
    • Barbeque Safety
    • Basement Waterproofing
    • Bathroom Vents
    • Bats
    • Bed Bugs
    • Bethel Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Biological Pollutants
    • Brookfield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Bug Zappers
    • Building a Home
    • Building Cavities Used as Supply or Return Ducts
    • Buying a Foreclosure
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Carpeted Bathrooms
    • Central Humidifiers
    • Central Vacuum
    • Central Air-Conditioning Systems
    • Child-Proofing
    • Chinese Drywall
    • Clothing Moths
    • Collar Ties
    • Condensation in Double-Paned Windows
    • Crumbling Foundations in CT
    • Danbury Condo Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Danbury Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Electrical Conductor Types
    • Electric Heat / Condensation
    • Electrical Panels
    • EMFs in the Home
    • Energy Conservation
    • Energy-Efficient Houses
    • Engineered Wood Flooring
    • Exterior Design Features
    • Factory-Built Fireplaces
    • Fairfield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • FHA Loan Basics
    • Fire Safety
    • Foreclosures
    • Foreclosure Inspections
    • Formaldehyde
    • Foundation Insulation
    • Galvanic Corrosion
    • Garages
    • Garage Doors and Openers
    • Garage Fire Containment
    • GFCI's
    • Gutters
    • How To Choose a Home Inspector
    • Ice Dams
    • Infrared Inspections
    • Insulation
    • Knob and Tube
    • Links and Resources
    • Manufactured Homes
    • Newtown Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • New Milford Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Oil Burners
    • Plumbing Terms
    • Ridgefield Home Inspector | Allied Home Inspections LLC
    • Roofing
    • Scope of a Home Inspection
    • Sealing / insulating
    • Septic
    • Siding and Insects
    • Stamford Water Contamination
    • Termites
    • Typical Inspection
    • Underground Oil Tanks
    • Vinyl Siding
    • Water Quality
    • Water Softeners
    • Water Softener Backwash
    • Water Wells
    • What Should a Home Inspection Cost?