In this installment of Postcards from the Field, the subject is clearance to combustible materials. Single wall flues on gas appliances like furnaces and water heaters generally require 6” minimum clearance while double wall pipe generally requires 1”. I would say one out of every three houses I inspect doesn’t meet these guidelines. These are safety issues that would cost very little to correct, and many times you could do it yourself. Just a matter of moving insulation and other combustible materials so you have adequate clearance. Open bulbs in closets should be replaced with covered fixtures. A bit more involved but worth doing. Again, pretty simple fixes that would cost little or nothing. Be safe out there. See you in 2 weeks for another installment of Postcards from the Field!
