Hurricane Furnace Exhaust

[Jeremy Parrett]

My Hurricane furnace exhaust has a 90 deg elbow where the exhaust exits the bottom of the unit. It is 1 1/2 inch in diameter.  It has a big hole burned in it !!  Can I install  a regular exhaust elbow or is this made of something special??  Thanks, Jeremy

[Lee Welbanks]

Get a good muffler shop to make up a replacement, might have one on the shelve.

[Jeremy Parrett]

Thanks Lee.  Cutting this unit off is going to be fun!!

[Jeremy Parrett]

Ok. I have cut the elbow off.  It is made of solid copper with   sleeves where it is clamped to the muffler and the furnace.
   Question is ...'can I replace this with a steel 1 1/2 inch 90 deg elbow' ?  

[Lee Welbanks]

Jeremy,

I thought it looked like cu pipe fittings, trouble is cu pipe fittings have their own size. 1 1/2" cu pipe is 1 5/8" OD. Iron/Steel pipe is a completely different animal, exhaust pipe/tube might work. I'm not sure on exhaust tube sizes but I think they have a 1 5/8". A good shop could make up anything you need, they can expand or re-size to what you need.
I would bet that the elbow is brazed onto the down pipe, is the down pipe cu also? May have created a mess by cutting it off,,,,,hope not.
Good luck.

[Jeremy Parrett]

Hi Lee,
  the 90 deg elbow was clamped and screwed to the downpipe and  the muffler.  The downpipe is an alloy......nickel maybe but very hard.....the muffler is mild steel.   I have a local shop here that, come Monday ,are going to make me an elbow out of steel exhaust tubing.  It needs to be 1 1/2 in ID at both ends with a total length of 6 3/4 inches.  
ITR  who make the Hurricane Furnace tell me they use steel exhaust tubing for the new heaters but can custom make one out of stainless steel for around $60
      Thanks,  Jeremy

[Lee Welbanks]

Jeremy,

Sounds like you have a handle on it.

[Gerald Farris]

Jeremy,
The original elbow was a copper fitting from a home plumbing supply house. You can go to any large home plumbing supply house and buy a direct replacement off of the shelf. The problem with exhaust tubing is that the bend will not be as sharp and that will make the exhaust hang down too low where it will drag on the ground at times.

Gerald  

[Jeremy Parrett]

Hi Gerald,
   that make a lot of sense.  I will go buy the plumbing fitting and then get the tube fabricator  to replicate it in steel;maybe stainless steel.     Thanks,  Jeremy

[Lee Welbanks]

Jeremy,

I don't think a exhaust tube bender will make a 90 degree elbow with that short a radius. Could you just go back with the 1 1/2 cu elbow and clamp it in place, probably will last for years.

[Gerald Farris]

Jeremy,
Your original copper elbow lasted 14 years, therefore I do not see the reasoning in trying to improve it with a better replacement. Just install another copper elbow and it will probably outlast you. Why reinvent the wheel?

Gerald

[Jeremy Parrett]

Gerald you are right of course.  AC Automotive here in Vero Beach are certain they can reinvent the wheel !!  I am curious to see the results !!

[Lee Welbanks]

Jeremy,

Pleas post pic's of what the wizards come up with, this could get interesting.

[Bill Borden]

Jeremy,

I had the exact same issue with our Hurricane, the hole is in the same spot.  What I found out was that a replacement muffler was available from the manufacturer  http://itrheat.com/.

I ordered the replacement muffler including the 90 degree elbow for about $100.00 with shipping and tax.  The new model is made of Aluminiumised metal. Receive the replacement in a couple of days.

I replaced the muffler and the exhaust pipe (also Aluminumised) to the same spot for about another 75.00.  Works great.

Give these guys a call  1-800-993-4402.

Hope this helps,

Safe travels,

Bill

[Jeremy Parrett]

FYI  ITR told me they could make an elbow from stainless steel for $60.  My muffler shop cannot make a replica so I am going with Gerald's suggestion and replacing the copper pipe elbow with same !!  Ta da !!