Backdrafting
Backdrafting occurs when the pressure inside the house is less than the pressure outside the house and the exhaust from natural drafting gas appliances is sucked back into the house.
Backdrafting is more of an issue today than the past due to tighter construction standards. A bathroom fan may be enough to create negative pressure in a tightly sealed house.
Backdrafting can also result from leaking return air duct work, wood burning fireplaces (a fire can pull several hundred cubic feet of air out of the house each minute, causing appliances to backdraft), high wind conditions that result in high pressure on the windward side of the house and low pressure on the downward side, and so on.
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You can minimize the potential for backdrafting by installing modern, energy efficient gas furnaces, wood stoves and water heaters that feature sealed combustion systems. Sealed combustion appliances draw outside air for combustion and exhaust combustion by-products outdoors. Since indoor air is not used for combustion, backdrafting is not a concern.
Another option is power vented furnaces or water heaters. These products use indoor air for combustion, but use a fan to exhaust combustion by-products outside.
Energy Tip – Keep your furnace clean, lubricated and property adjusted with annual maintenance. If your furnace is working at peak efficiency, it will use less energy and cost less to operate.