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[goodstuff]

If I were you, I'd consult another heating contractor (or a couple of them) and get the issue fixed. You need competent, on-site analysis and solutions. An internet chat board probably isn't your best resource.

[Suzeecat]

I had the same problem several years back when we had a blizzard in Michigan. We had a new furnace and it was installed by a reputable dealer so I'm sure it was up to code, but you can't always anticipate such a problem. I don't think it's a health hazard with respect to fumes (although I could be wrong) since the furnace stops running. Heating contractors probably suggest to people when calling for service during heaving snow periods that they check it before they send someone out.

If it's too hard for you to keep the area clear, I would suggest that you contact whoever negotiates the snow-clearing contract to have that service added. No doubt you are not the only ones having this problem! If that fails, maybe you could catch the people doing the shoveling and offer them a cash "tip" to clear it.

[pink-rainbows]

[coffee drinker]

Thank you all for your replies. I'll try to respond to some that I can remember.

BoyinTX: We do not live in Sun City -- more like Snow City. J/K - The reason there are no kids here is because we live in a 55 and olderadult community -- no persons under 18 allowed.

ID2: The furnace/vents are OK/legal according to building inspector.

Pink Petals: We seldom travel extended periods of time in the winter.

I've talked with some neighbors and some just say they've extended their vent pipes themselves without authorization from our Association Board. This is not the thing to do -- could cause serious problems. My next step is contacting our Board to see if they'll advise me of what people did that complied with the Board. Any outside modification to homes has to be approved by them. I know some just do what they want, but we comply with the R&R.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please pass them along.

[gardenman]

A crude solution would be to put a large, flatter container filled with ice melt under the vents. A couple of inches of ice melt in a litter box type container under the vent might serve to keep the snow from building up. You might have to build a large flat box to accommodate the ice melt (rock salt) but if you're melting the snow as it falls, you shouldn't suffer from buildup. This would create a very briny solution that will likely overflow and harm your lawn long term, but as a short term solution it should work okay.

[pattypeep]

I concur with the poster that suggested checking first with your county building dept. Then, if it appears to be per code, get a hold of a gas furnace company. This brings back memories of what my dh and I went through when we first built our house. We came home from work one day with our carbon monoxide detector blaring. We immediately called the gas co. and they checked the house with their special little gizmo. We had a high amount of monoxide through the house. We were mortified as we had four pets in the house. Come to find out, the contractor put the intake and output pipes too close together on the outside wall and much of what went out came back in. And ~ it was inspected !! We recalled that we had felt nauseated and not up to par for several weeks. Praise the Lord for the carbon alerts. I hope that your issue is resolved and that you do not need to pay a bunch of money.

[gabstoomuch]

I am lucky my vent is high, above an exit out of my cellar. But this must be a common problem. Even calling Home Depot or Lowes (or going there) and asking might point you in a direction. Most of the guys (I find) are retired contractors and give pretty good advice (and sometimes saves money because there are "do it yourself" solutions that you may not know about.

My first thought about extending the line could be dangerous (and I have NO idea, but it was what crossed my mind). I have a feeling the distance of pipe from furnace to exit is just long enough to monitor and trigger a back-up of gas fumes, hence triggering the furnace shuts down for safety. Extending the distance could let the fumes back up for longer, and become more dense, before tripping the shut down, and that would scare me, personally.

I would ask around the DIY home stores, you cant possibly be alone in this problem?

Good Luck!

[gardenman]

Another alternative would be soil heating cables placed below the vent and plugged in when snow is expected. Soil heating cables are used to heat seed beds and are waterproof. They'd generate enough heat to melt the snow as it falls. You don't even have to bury them, just lay them on the soil beneath the vent and plug them in when snow is forecast.

[coffee drinker]

On 10/21/2014 gardenman said: Another alternative would be soil heating cables placed below the vent and plugged in when snow is expected. Soil heating cables are used to heat seed beds and are waterproof. They'd generate enough heat to melt the snow as it falls. You don't even have to bury them, just lay them on the soil beneath the vent and plug them in when snow is forecast.

Gardenman,

Thank you for that suggestion -- I checked those cables on Amazon--very interesting. We may look further into them. We do have an outdoor outlet, but naturally, it isn't close to where these vents are. Amazon showed extension cords, but I wondered if they could be plugged into a "regular" indoor house outlet.

[gardenman]

coffee drinker. Officially you should always plug any outdoor electrical device into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. In reality few people do. For the ultimate in safety use a GFCI, but for intermittent use of soil heating cables only when it snows, you're probably okay skipping using one as long as you're careful. If you're using an extension cord from inside your house and you're not electrically grounded (holding onto a metal sink faucet, metal drain pipe, metal appliance with a grounded skin, or standing in a pool of water) while plugging in or unplugging the extension cord from inside your house, you're probably completely safe. It's not all that easy to electrocute yourself or lots more people would be doing it.