Chile Forum

Does anyone know where I could find a code that will tell me where to install a gas califont in a new construction? I have no idea if there is a difference in codes between building in the city or the country ( I doubt it but...) Any input would be appreciated.

You want to put your califonts outdoors. What, that's not specific enough?!

otravers wrote:You want to put your califonts outdoors. What, that's not specific enough?!

I will second that... preferably as close to where the hot water is going as possible. If you keep it out doors for some reason the next best location is a utility room with a door (preferably with weather striping and a tight seal and will always be closed) and please make sure the califont is vented properly.

j. Ro wrote:

otravers wrote:You want to put your califonts outdoors. What, that's not specific enough?!

I will second that... preferably as close to where the hot water is going as possible. If you keep it out doors for some reason the next best location is a utility room with a door (preferably with weather striping and a tight seal and will always be closed) and please make sure the califont is vented properly.

Thanks for the replies!

I will second that... preferably as close to where the hot water is going as possible. If you keep it out doors for some reason the next best location is a utility room with a door (preferably with weather striping and a tight seal and will always be closed) and please make sure the califont is vented properly.

Aren't we forgetting combustion air?
Venting a califont is a must, but a tightly sealed room will starve the califont of oxygen and these things need a LOT of air and gas when they're running.

Would also be a hazard for the person tasked to go to the utility room for something not to mention a niño, nana, etc. without a clue. For all that wonder why Chile dwellings (probably 90%+ have in the habitacion installed califonts) are so airy, this is probably ONE reason.

MikieO wrote:Aren't we forgetting combustion air?
Venting a califont is a must, but a tightly sealed room will starve the califont of oxygen and these things need a LOT of air and gas when they're running.

Yes... sometime I just forget who I am talking to. I forget that some of the applications I see everyday aren’t so common to none construction people, and probably even less common to Chilean maestros. It is common in Calgary to have your furnace & gas hot water tanks in the basement. Most of the applications I have seen are really good at making sure that they have enough air for combustion. But the venting on some could be improved. And the venting is the one that will put you to sleep and never wake up. For most houses in Chile it’s not much of a problem because they leak air as if they didn’t have any walls or a roof. My in-laws have their califont mounted on the wall in the kitchen, but the kitchen door doesn’t seal when its closed and plus it has a hole in the door for the dogs and the house has no insulation or vapour barrier so there is A LOT of air leakage.

As for eeuu comment, he does have a point… but if it is vented properly you can be in the room with the califont burning with out any problems. The reason you want a sealed door, if you have it in the house, is because there are certain appliances (hood fans, some AC units, etc...) that suck the air out of your house. And if you have one of these turned on while the califont is working you can suck all those gases back in to your living space. If you seal it off from the rest of the house then it is impossible for that to happen, unless you like to show off your utility room and leave the door open all the time (that is why the first option is always to put it out side, because then you don’t have to worry about the door). For most applications in Chile this isn't much of a problem because the walls breathe so much, but if I remember correctly from Gloria's other posts, here house isn't like most Chilean applications.

j. Ro wrote:

MikieO wrote:Aren't we forgetting combustion air?
Venting a califont is a must, but a tightly sealed room will starve the califont of oxygen and these things need a LOT of air and gas when they're running.

Yes... sometime I just forget who I am talking to. I forget that some of the applications I see everyday aren’t so common to none construction people, and probably even less common to Chilean maestros. It is common in Calgary to have your furnace & gas hot water tanks in the basement. Most of the applications I have seen are really good at making sure that they have enough air for combustion. But the venting on some could be improved. And the venting is the one that will put you to sleep and never wake up. For most houses in Chile it’s not much of a problem because they leak air as if they didn’t have any walls or a roof. My in-laws have their califont mounted on the wall in the kitchen, but the kitchen door doesn’t seal when its closed and plus it has a hole in the door for the dogs and the house has no insulation or vapour barrier so there is A LOT of air leakage.

As for eeuu comment, he does have a point… but if it is vented properly you can be in the room with the califont burning with out any problems. The reason you want a sealed door, if you have it in the house, is because there are certain appliances (hood fans, some AC units, etc...) that suck the air out of your house. And if you have one of these turned on while the califont is working you can suck all those gases back in to your living space. If you seal it off from the rest of the house then it is impossible for that to happen, unless you like to show off your utility room and leave the door open all the time (that is why the first option is always to put it out side, because then you don’t have to worry about the door). For most applications in Chile this isn't much of a problem because the walls breathe so much, but if I remember correctly from Gloria's other posts, here house isn't like most Chilean applications.

The house is the work of an american man, built all by himself from the ground up, with american standards, american style, untouched by chilean workers ( just me.. )but with chilean products and it has been made airtight in every conceivable way therefore the califonts must be mounted in the outside, well protected.Thank you again for your input.

A neat application I've seen for providing califont combustion air is to stick the califont in a deeper kitchen cabinet with holes punched through the back wall to the outside, These had foundation vents over them on the outside to stop birds making nests. The califont creates a partial vacuum as it sucks air from the cabinet but the vent shafts provide combustion air on an as needed basis. This way, the room air is not part of the cycle and the colder outside air stays there until needed. This was in Ca, but in a colder clime I guess you could put a couple of one way dryer vents in the cabinet wall. As I said, These things use a lot of air, some at over 200 000 BTUs so you'll need to check out the instructions.

Anyone have any experience with those little "micro turbine" ones that generate the spark through a little turbine in the water flow? I specifically chose an old Ursus Trotter design that uses a battery for ignition. I can see that turbine getting calcified in no time and pilot light ones just waste a lot of gas.

Not having any luck findings messages about electrical service is there an electric code?

I am guessing there is, my electrician ran everything in 14ga braided wire, inside plastic rigid conduit. He said Romex doesn't make code but used it anyway when it was free. Nobody from the city is coming out to inspect the work anyway so it shouldn't be a problem.
While we're discussing code and techniques I hate the way they put junction boxes up high on the walls when they could just as easily be in the attic or down at the same height as the outlets. Bump this over to a different thread if you want.

It has to be outside by law now anywhere in the country. That can be a sort of enclosed but well ventilated shed attached to the house or on a patio of sorts. Don't forget to insulate those pipes. No point in heating more water than you need to.

Highly recommend again buying one with an electric ignition. You will save a bundle in gas pilot light running all the time.