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New Home | No Heat?

January 28, 2022 By Doug Francis

No natural gas heat and snow drift issue in Vienna new homes
Outside Gas Furnace Exhaust Vent

As another storm races up the East Coast threatening to dump a foot or more of snow, owners of new homes or retrofitted high-efficiency natural gas furnaces should know this tip.

Your natural gas furnace may vent to the side of your house, and it may also intake air from the side of your home.

Winds in a blizzard can cause light flaky snow to blow up against your exterior walls building snowdrifts that cover these critical furnace pipes.

If the intake or exhaust pipes get covered with snow then your system will shut down ~ and that may be your heating issue.

So, note where the pipes exit your home and go outside to make sure they are completely clear of snow or debris.


Last winter this exact situation happened to one of my clients who had bought a new home in Vienna, Virginia.

In his situation, fast blowing snow had built up over the air intake pipe which was located about two feet off the ground at his house.

The built-in safety switch worked well, shutting off the furnace on one of the coldest days of the year,

After spending an hour flipping switches and checking circuit breakers, he ventured outside to discover a snowdrift covering the fresh-air intake pipe to his furnace. These high-efficiency systems pull in the fresh air, and then exhaust the combustion fumes out a secondary pipe.

Most new homes have two heating systems, one for the basement and main level, and one for the bedroom level(s). The lower-level heating systems are the ones most prone to shut down by snowdrifts.

New natural gas furnaces are extremely energy efficient and work differently than older-style gas furnaces.

  • First, they don’t require a metal chimney as the exhaust is cool enough to be carried through special PVC pipes.
  • Second, they draw fresh air through an intake pipe into the combustion chamber rather than use the air from inside your home.

If you don’t have heat, check the side of your house!

The HVAC system will sense when airflow isn’t correct

and shut down to prevent a carbon monoxide problem.


New home construction, especially here in Vienna Virginia, seems to be focused on making homes super energy-efficient. One technique is using advanced insulation products like spray foam insulation, known as Icynene, which is commonly sprayed where floor joists meet exterior walls.

Icynene is sprayed into these joints where the Icynene expands before it hardens in place creating a very solid barrier that allows virtually no airflow.

Pulling in the combustion air and exhausting the fumes makes for a very efficient system.

For more about new home construction in Vienna, or send me an email at doug@dougfrancis.com and I’ll get back to you.

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Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: real estate, Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

I’m so excited that you found me! Yes, this site covers real estate, but also a lot about lifestyle and  living in Vienna, Virginia outside Washington, D.C.

There is a lot of info here, and you can also contact me with any specific real estate questions. And, at home consultations are available too.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Let me help you: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

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