Direct sidewall vent system

A direct sidewall vent system between a fuel-burning appliance in a first space and an external atmosphere through a wall between the first space and the external atmosphere, the direct sidewall vent system comprising:

• a wall assembly that defines a first passage with a central axis for communicating combustion gas generated through operation of the fuel-burning appliance to a first outlet through which the combustion gas is communicated to the external atmosphere,
• the wall assembly defining a second passage with a central axis that is substantially coincident with the central axis of the first passage for communicating makeup air from the external atmosphere to the fuel-burning appliance in the first space,
• the direct sidewall vent system comprising an external portion that is situated within the external atmosphere and at which the first outlet is located,
• the external portion of the direct sidewall vent system having a top, a bottom, and spaced sides,
• the external portion of the direct sidewall vent system having a first inlet within the external atmosphere through which makeup air from the external atmosphere is communicated to the second passage,
• the first inlet situated to draw substantially the entirety of makeup air from the external atmosphere delivered to the fuel-burning appliance through the second passage from a location at the top of the external portion of the direct sidewall vent system.

A method of venting a fuel-burning appliance in a first space through a vertical sidewall between the first space and an external atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vent system comprising a wall assembly that defines first and second substantially concentric passages with one of the first and second passages having a central axis that extends through the vertical sidewall;
• operating the fuel-burning appliance and thereby producing combustion gas;
• causing the combustion gas to be directed through the first passage and discharge through a first outlet to the external atmosphere;
• and
• causing substantially the entirety of makeup air delivered to the fuel-burning appliance through the second passage to be directed from the external atmosphere through an inlet that is in communication with the second passage and from the inlet downwardly at a location within the inlet towards the central axis of the one of the first and second passages for delivery through the second passage to the fuel-burning appliance.

A method of venting a fuel-burning appliance in a first space through a vertical sidewall between the first space and an external atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vent system comprising a wall assembly that defines first and second substantially concentric passages having a central axis that extends through the vertical sidewall and that has an external portion exposed to the external atmosphere and having a top, bottom, and spaced sides;
• causing the combustion gas to be directed through the first passage and discharge through a first outlet to the external atmosphere;
• and
• causing substantially the entirety of makeup air delivered to the fuel-burning appliance through the second passage to be directed from the external atmosphere through an inlet at the top of the external portion of the vent system for communicating through the second passage to the fuel-burning appliance.