507270-03Page 16 of 60 Issue 1917
Venting Practices
Figure 21. 
Removal of the Furnace from Common Vent
In  the  event  that  an  existing  furnace  is  removed  from 
a  venting  system  commonly  run  with  separate  gas 
appliances, the venting system is likely to be too large to 
properly vent the remaining attached appliances.
Conduct the following test while each appliance is operating 
and the other appliances (which are not operating) remain 
connected to  the  common  venting  system. If  the  venting 
system has been installed improperly, you must correct the 
system  as  indicated  in  the  general  venting  requirements 
section.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure  to  follow  the  steps  outlined  below  for  each 
appliance  connected  to  the  venting  system  being 
placed into  operation could result in carbon monoxide 
poisoning or death.
The following steps shall be followed for each appliance 
connected  to  the  venting  system  being  placed  into 
operation, while  all  other appliances connected  to  the 
venting system are not in operation.
 WARNING
1.  Seal  any  unused  openings  in  the  common  venting 
system.
2.  Inspect  the  venting  system  for  proper  size  and 
horizontal pitch. Determine that there is no blockage, 
restriction,  leakage,  corrosion,  or  other  deciencies 
which could cause an unsafe condition.
3.  Close  all  building  doors  and  windows  and  all  doors 
between the space in which the appliances remaining 
connected to the common venting system are located 
and  other  spaces  of  the  building.  Turn  ON  clothes 
dryers  and  any  appliances  not  connected  to  the 
common venting system. Turn ON any exhaust fans, 
such as range hoods and bathroom exhausts, so they 
will  operate  at  maximum  speed.  Do  not  operate  a 
summer exhaust fan. Close replace dampers.
4.  Follow the lighting instructions. Turn ON the appliance 
that is being inspected. Adjust the thermostat so that 
the appliance operates continuously.
5.  After the main burner has operated for 5 minutes, test 
for leaks of ue gases at the draft hood relief opening. 
Use the ame of a match or candle.
6.  After  determining  that  each  appliance  connected  to 
the common venting system is venting properly, (step 
3)  return  all  doors,  windows,  exhaust  fans,  replace 
dampers,  and  any  other  gas  burning  appliances  to 
their previous mode of operation.
7.  If  a  venting  problem  is  found  during  any  of  the 
preceding tests, the common venting system must be 
modied to correct the problems.
Resize the common venting system to the minimum vent 
pipe  size  determined  by  using  the  appropriate  tables  in 
Appendix  G.  (These  are  in  the  current  standards  of  the 
National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1.
Figure 22.