Check your radiant heaters

[Doggggboy]

Was grabbing something off a top shelf in the shop this morning under the overhead tube heater and noticed a rusty spot on the bottom of the exhaust vent. Up the ladder and there was a 2 inch hole corroded in the vent allowing exhaust gasses into the shop. It was still venting outside but probably not good to have any of the exhaust end up in a relatively well sealed shop. I replaced the pipe and should be good to go for a while. Couldn't find any specs regarding galvanized, stainless or aluminum so just used the galvanized I had available. The original was aluminum I think.

 

[YYCHM]

The original was aluminum I think.

Aluminum doesn't rust.....

 

[Doggggboy]

Aluminum doesn't rust.....

True. Non magnetic though so maybe just shitty stainless.

 

[DPittman]

Put in a carbon monoxide detector in your shop for added level of safety. However it is mildly annoying when it goes off everytime I run an engine inside for any length of time.

 

[ChazzC]

Gas-Fired heaters create water vapor as a product of combusyion, so can can issues like this: hot steel + water = Rust

 

[Doggggboy]

Gas-Fired heaters create water vapor as a product of combusyion, so can can issues like this: hot steel + water = Rust

For sure but I'm wondering is this is more of an acidic type of exhaust. The part I thought was rusted is non magnetic so I'm assuming non ferrous.

 

[Susquatch]

Aluminum doesn't rust.....

That's true. Aluminium doesn't rust. But it does corrode. Under the right conditions, it can corrode faster than steel can rust.

If it is aluminium, it could be acidic condensate that ate through it.

 

[Doggggboy]

That's true. Aluminium doesn't rust. But it does corrode. Under the right conditions, it can corrode faster than steel can rust.

If it is aluminium, it could be acidic condensate that ate through it.

I'm thinking aluminum for this one. Pretty dull looking.

 

[BMW Rider]

Check with an expert in HVAC, but I didn't think aluminium was allowed for exhaust venting.

 

[DPittman]

Check with an expert in HVAC, but I didn't think aluminium was allowed for exhaust venting.

They use aluminum on gas water heaters.

 

[Doggggboy]

Check with an expert in HVAC, but I didn't think aluminium was allowed for exhaust venting.

An expert has told me that it used to be, but most likely isn't any longer.
I had read somewhere else that it is based on the btu of the appliance.

 

[mbond]

Acid seems likely. Carbon and Sulfur from the combustion process dissolved in condensed water vapor from the same process.

Common when there is a lot of condensation - i.e. cold pipe / horizontal run.

 

[Upnorth]

I'm an aircraft mechanic so I have seen a lot of corroded aluminum over the years. Under certain conditions it can corrode fast. I have seen holes in planes and fittings corroded away to nothing. Exhaust gas would be corrosive. You should see what mercury can do to aluminum. It's also susceptible to dissimilar metal corrosion. 2 incompatible metals and some electrolyte (like seawater) and you have a little battery that eats away the metal. In some fittings on old WW2 planes you can see where it eats away at the grain of the metal.

 

[historicalarms]

I change the exhaust piping (Galvanized chimney pipe) on my tube heater every 2 yrs.

 

[Tom O]

2.1K views · 25 reactions | The interaction between aluminum and mercury is striking—and dangerous. Aluminum is normally protected by a thin oxide layer that prevents corrosion. When mercury comes into contact with exposed aluminum—where that oxide l

The interaction between aluminum and mercury is striking—and dangerous. Aluminum is normally protected by a thin oxide layer that prevents corrosion. When mercury comes into contact with exposed...

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[Maker Mike]

They can make batteries out of aluminum.

Aluminium–air battery - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org