asbestos on water heater flue -- replace or wait?

[manfreda1]

Thank you very much for your input!

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by manfreda1

I have ben told by a Forced Air Furnace installer that I need to replace the Transite flue pipe when I replace my current unit because the newer 80% efficiency replacement model will cause the flue pipe to produce some yellow acid which will flow back into the furnace. I don't understand why installing a higher efficiency unit would cause this condition any more so than my old unit at the same BTU rating.
Would appreciate your input.
Thank you

The exhaust gas is cooler and does not carry as much water vapor to daylight.

Here, at least in this subdivision... the transite is left in place and the new PVC rated pipe is run inside the old pipe with High Efficiency furnaces which also require a condensate drain... the water vapor has to to somewhere.

[InterestedOne]

Originally Posted by christeen

We just bought a 40-year old house. Our whole house inspector's report notes the water heater vent connector terminates within a Transite (asbestos cement) flue pipe which does not meet present standards. He said the local buildings dept might require upgrading when the furnace is replaced but otherwise no problems noted.

We had a contractor check out the flue as well. He said all homes built at the time used the same flue vent stack, but it could be changed to a "B" vent 3" flue pipe ($145). We were going to have him do this work before we moved in, but I'm wondering now if it's a good idea to mess around with the flue if there's nothing wrong with it -- ie, shouldn't we leave it alone since it's asbesots?

Thanks for any advice!

Encapsulation is an approved abatement technique. DO NOT REMOVE. Instead google asbestos encapsulation coatings and apply as recommended. I have my favorites but your state may require one product vs another. In most all cases however, elastomeric coating are the preferred method.

Hope this helps...

[BradPwett]

Originally Posted by manfreda1

I have ben told by a Forced Air Furnace installer that I need to replace the Transite flue pipe when I replace my current unit because the newer 80% efficiency replacement model will cause the flue pipe to produce some yellow acid which will flow back into the furnace. I don't understand why installing a higher efficiency unit would cause this condition any more so than my old unit at the same BTU rating.
Would appreciate your input.
Thank you

Same problem with my new furnace. There is a yellow acid dripping from transited flu pipe.