I recently inherited an old propane furnace that's been sitting in my 100+ year-old factory home for eight years after my husband installed it without proper venting. The exhaust just ends at a rafter, and I'm really not sure how it hasn't caused any issues. Now that my husband has passed, I need to take it out, but I have no idea how to go about it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Here's a picture of the furnace: [link](https://imgur.com/a/W30EkPY)
4 Answers
Before starting, make sure both the gas and any electrical connections are turned off to the heater. Next, begin looking for screws; some components like grills might even snap off. Safety is key here, so double-check that everything’s powered down.
First off, you should check if there's a propane line connected to the heater. It might be wise to have a plumber cap that off before you proceed. After that, look for screws or any components that might allow you to remove the cover. Sometimes they have those hex-head screws, or the cover might just lift off. Also, don't forget to search for screws fixing it to the wall or floor—those should be accessible since it was installed originally.
Alternatively, you could just cover it with a piece of sheetrock and forget about it. Although that might not be the best long-term solution, it could save you some immediate headaches!
Yeah, that would be quite the surprise for the next owners! (Just kidding, of course.)
Are you planning to fully remove it? If you need a new heat source afterward, consider reaching out to HVAC companies for quotes on removal and installation. They could handle that safely and efficiently, which might save you some trouble.
Haha, I hope you’re joking! That's a classic DIY cover-up move, but definitely not the right way to handle it.