My furnace needs work and I’m afraid the burn off will kill my 60 indoor chicks. HELP

[cavemanrich]

I need to get my heat exchanger replaced as the old one is failing. It has a five minute burn off of the oil applied to a new one for installation.

Here are some opinions and ideas for you to think about... Just so you know that I'm not just shooting from the hip.. I worked in the heating and air conditioning field as well as attended school.
Here is a diagram of a typical forced air furnace. It is gas fired and I assumed yours is also. There are as many different types of furnaces as there are cars.

1. If your heat exchanger is failing,, (the silver colored part in above picture.. top,,,,, back) maybe it is time to replace complete furnace. Heat exchangers usually last a long time. When they go, then all your other components are close behind one at a time.
2. Removing one is not an easy task. (varies by furnace) so often times it is easier to remove furnace from installation and disassemble , and rebuild in a stand alone position. I don't know your particular furnace or circumstances. Consider the cost of a labor intensive rebuilding compared to a new furnace replacement. How much will you save??? Only you can answer that particular question.
3. If done in that method, then have your contractor fire test your rebuilt furnace outdoors and burn off that oil film outside. He/she may tell you some BS that it is not necessary. To you it is a legitimate concern. Others with chemical sensitivity, @lazy gardener and @CarolinaSunshineFlock IT IS IMPORTANT.
4. The fire testing will burn off the oil film that is from stamping/manufacturing process. It is on both sides of the heat exchanger metal. @aart . The interior of heat exchanger will vent up the chimney. The exterior portion when heated and burned off will enter the living area, if done inside and already installed. Think of the surface of the metal under a microscope as sandpaper. A very small amount of oil may still be present on the surface until burned off.
5. A new furnace should be fire tested at the place of manufacturing to make sure ALL safety devices and controls are working properly. That test would burn off any oil residue.
6. Your service personnel may tell you that they have no way of firing your rebuilt furnace outside. If they are half as good as I, they should be able to figure out how. Sometimes done to make sure a unit is operational, especially when purchasing a used model before handing over cash.
Here is the danger of a failed heat exchanger. Pix is from online search.

A Carbon Monoxide detector should be in every home. Here is a pix of mine.

As well a smoke detectors properly placed.
IT IS THE SMARTEST LIFE ASSURANCE AND SO REASONABLE.

 

[aart]

. @aart . The interior of heat exchanger will vent up the chimney. The exterior portion when heated and burned off will enter the living area, if done inside and already installed. Think of the surface of the metal under a microscope as sandpaper. A very small amount of oil may still be present on the surface until burned off.

Thanks CMR. Am familiar with new metal and oil residue. Excellent post!

 

[lazy gardener]

Here are some opinions and ideas for you to think about... Just so you know that I'm not just shooting from the hip.. I worked in the heating and air conditioning field as well as attended school.
Here is a diagram of a typical forced air furnace. It is gas fired and I assumed yours is also. There are as many different types of furnaces as there are cars.

1. If your heat exchanger is failing,, (the silver colored part in above picture.. top,,,,, back) maybe it is time to replace complete furnace. Heat exchangers usually last a long time. When they go, then all your other components are close behind one at a time.
2. Removing one is not an easy task. (varies by furnace) so often times it is easier to remove furnace from installation and disassemble , and rebuild in a stand alone position. I don't know your particular furnace or circumstances. Consider the cost of a labor intensive rebuilding compared to a new furnace replacement. How much will you save??? Only you can answer that particular question.
3. If done in that method, then have your contractor fire test your rebuilt furnace outdoors and burn off that oil film outside. He/she may tell you some BS that it is not necessary. To you it is a legitimate concern. Others with chemical sensitivity, @lazy gardener and @CarolinaSunshineFlock IT IS IMPORTANT.
4. The fire testing will burn off the oil film that is from stamping/manufacturing process. It is on both sides of the heat exchanger metal. @aart . The interior of heat exchanger will vent up the chimney. The exterior portion when heated and burned off will enter the living area, if done inside and already installed. Think of the surface of the metal under a microscope as sandpaper. A very small amount of oil may still be present on the surface until burned off.
5. A new furnace should be fire tested at the place of manufacturing to make sure ALL safety devices and controls are working properly. That test would burn off any oil residue.
6. Your service personnel may tell you that they have no way of firing your rebuilt furnace outside. If they are half as good as I, they should be able to figure out how. Sometimes done to make sure a unit is operational, especially when purchasing a used model before handing over cash.
Here is the danger of a failed heat exchanger. Pix is from online search.

A Carbon Monoxide detector should be in every home. Here is a pix of mine.
View attachment 1229336
As well a smoke detectors properly placed.
IT IS THE SMARTEST LIFE ASSURANCE AND SO REASONABLE.

1000 likes for the above post.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Here are some opinions and ideas for you to think about... Just so you know that I'm not just shooting from the hip.. I worked in the heating and air conditioning field as well as attended school.
Here is a diagram of a typical forced air furnace. It is gas fired and I assumed yours is also. There are as many different types of furnaces as there are cars.

1. If your heat exchanger is failing,, (the silver colored part in above picture.. top,,,,, back) maybe it is time to replace complete furnace. Heat exchangers usually last a long time. When they go, then all your other components are close behind one at a time.
2. Removing one is not an easy task. (varies by furnace) so often times it is easier to remove furnace from installation and disassemble , and rebuild in a stand alone position. I don't know your particular furnace or circumstances. Consider the cost of a labor intensive rebuilding compared to a new furnace replacement. How much will you save??? Only you can answer that particular question.
3. If done in that method, then have your contractor fire test your rebuilt furnace outdoors and burn off that oil film outside. He/she may tell you some BS that it is not necessary. To you it is a legitimate concern. Others with chemical sensitivity, @lazy gardener and @CarolinaSunshineFlock IT IS IMPORTANT.
4. The fire testing will burn off the oil film that is from stamping/manufacturing process. It is on both sides of the heat exchanger metal. @aart . The interior of heat exchanger will vent up the chimney. The exterior portion when heated and burned off will enter the living area, if done inside and already installed. Think of the surface of the metal under a microscope as sandpaper. A very small amount of oil may still be present on the surface until burned off.
5. A new furnace should be fire tested at the place of manufacturing to make sure ALL safety devices and controls are working properly. That test would burn off any oil residue.
6. Your service personnel may tell you that they have no way of firing your rebuilt furnace outside. If they are half as good as I, they should be able to figure out how. Sometimes done to make sure a unit is operational, especially when purchasing a used model before handing over cash.
Here is the danger of a failed heat exchanger. Pix is from online search.

A Carbon Monoxide detector should be in every home. Here is a pix of mine.
View attachment 1229336
As well a smoke detectors properly placed.
IT IS THE SMARTEST LIFE ASSURANCE AND SO REASONABLE.

Do you sleep in a cape, Cave Person? Because I think secretly you're a super hero, always swooping in to proffer excellent feedback and ideas!!

Someone needs to write you a theme song that plays every time you post something new.

I read every word. Very informative. I had an old oil furnace in the basement of an old cottage I rented in Newport, Rhode Island. It creeped me out. It was like a Stephen King movie set down there, and it made creepy sounds at night.

Anyway, it sounds like the chickens are going to be fine, all sixty of them. Dare I ask how sixty chickens found their way to your basement? (Not Cave Person's basement; I meant the OP!)

 

[cavemanrich]

@CarolinaSunshineFlock Well, thank you for your kind words. I try to be helpful in things I am familiar/knowledgeable with. I do scan the unanswered threads, as well as other, and if there is a question I can help with I do. Then the others that I have no helpful knowledge on ,I pass. I often do like to add a lil humor to postings. Never, insulting, hurtful, degrading, and most of all clean. As to the theme song you mention. You already hang out in one or both of the music threads I post in. When the right one comes to mind, I will tag you and dedicate that song. I like music from all corners of this world. My music is as diverse as my liking of different foods from different lands. Only requirement,,,,,,,,, It has to be cooked. (if meat) No raw Sushi, Tartare, Prosciuto, or anything else missing fire.

 

[MFountain]

but....

The intial burn off smoke can only go out the duct work to all the vents ... I guess that is the flue (-:

 

[MFountain]

@CarolinaSunshineFlock Well, thank you for your kind words. I try to be helpful in things I am familiar/knowledgeable with. I do scan the unanswered threads, as well as other, and if there is a question I can help with I do. Then the others that I have no helpful knowledge on ,I pass. I often do like to add a lil humor to postings. Never, insulting, hurtful, degrading, and most of all clean. As to the theme song you mention. You already hang out in one or both of the music threads I post in. When the right one comes to mind, I will tag you and dedicate that song. I like music from all corners of this world. My music is as diverse as my liking of different foods from different lands. Only requirement,,,,,,,,, It has to be cooked. (if meat) No raw Sushi, Tartare, Prosciuto, or anything else missing fire.

My furnace is 4,500 to 6,500 to replace and being a single mom I don’t have that laying around so I have to save. In the meantime I have a Carrier furnace that the heat exchanger is still under warranty and is being replace at little cost to me. It’s my only option at this point. I have a security system that I added fire an carbon monoxide monitoring sonim good with that part. Thank you for the much appreciated advice and recommendation.

 

[MFountain]

Do you sleep in a cape, Cave Person? Because I think secretly you're a super hero, always swooping in to proffer excellent feedback and ideas!!

Someone needs to write you a theme song that plays every time you post something new.

I read every word. Very informative. I had an old oil furnace in the basement of an old cottage I rented in Newport, Rhode Island. It creeped me out. It was like a Stephen King movie set down there, and it made creepy sounds at night.

Anyway, it sounds like the chickens are going to be fine, all sixty of them. Dare I ask how sixty chickens found their way to your basement? (Not Cave Person's basement; I meant the OP!)

I have exotics that started laying in August so I got the incubation bug and started hatching out chicks. Well I got so excited with my success I forgot to pay attention to the approaching winter weather headed my way so now all my youngsters are in my unfinished basement until it warms up. I don’t think they will survive putting them out in 20 and below freezing temps in a Chicken house even though it is a well insulated and nicely bedded down and ventilated. Going from 70 to 30 or less is quite a shock to a birds system. Maybe I’m wrong and they’d be fine but I’m not willing to try and lose any of them. Thank you for your comment (-:

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I have exotics that started laying in August so I got the incubation bug and started hatching out chicks. Well I got so excited with my success I forgot to pay attention to the approaching winter weather headed my way so now all my youngsters are in my unfinished basement until it warms up. I don’t think they will survive putting them out in 20 and below freezing temps in a Chicken house even though it is a well insulated and nicely bedded down and ventilated. Going from 70 to 30 or less is quite a shock to a birds system. Maybe I’m wrong and they’d be fine but I’m not willing to try and lose any of them. Thank you for your comment (-:

Oh, I totally agree with you. Some chickens seem to fare just fine in teat freezers, but I'd say it probably causes a lot of stress and discomfort, and the more you get below the zero, the more you'll need heat in the coop. The basement is exactly where I'd keep them all winter if I had one.

 

[cavemanrich]

My furnace is 4,500 to 6,500 to replace and being a single mom I don’t have that laying around so I have to save. In the meantime I have a Carrier furnace that the heat exchanger is still under warranty and is being replace at little cost to me. It’s my only option at this point. I have a security system that I added fire an carbon monoxide monitoring sonim good with that part. Thank you for the much appreciated advice and recommendation.

You did not mention that it is under warranty. That means that the other components are still quite new. I only suggested a new furnace assuming your was already spent. In my home I have 2 separate furnaces. (single home, not 2 apartments)They control separate areas. I replaced one about 10 years ago. It is a Carrier model. Other furnace is about 35 years old and functions just fine. I have replaced small components on it in the past. I would not replace a heat exchanger in that dinosaur.
You read my post as I explained the burnoff. Seal off the basement area, like you said you can, and none of the initial fumes will enter basement. Then after all is running, vent your home living area, by opening the windows upstairs for what ever duration you think necessary.
SINCERELY WISHING YOU BEST....