If the flue is made of pvc pipe you have a high efficiency furnace also called a condensing furnace.
High efficiency furnace exhaust pipe.
The pvc pipes are used for air intake exhaust gas and to remove the corrosive condensation resulting from the combustion process.
Venting for high efficiency gas furnaces materials due to the condensing nature of a high efficiency furnace its venting must be made of a material that is resistant to corrosion.
These pvc or cpvc pipes can be inviting to rodents and birds especially in the winter as well as insects mostly in summer looking for a home.
Some high efficiency furnaces also include a plastic pipe for intake area and all types use a third plastic pipe to drain away the corrosive condensation resulting from the combustion process.
Other aspects of high efficiency furnace venting.
This high efficiency venting system must be installed when you install the new furnace.
Low flue gas temperatures allow for pvc flues instead of metal.
In a great majority of cases plastic piping is used to vent high efficiency equipment.
New high efficiency furnaces can have efficiency of about 95 percent a huge savings for your wallet.
High efficiency gas furnaces have plastic vent pipes that extend to the outdoors to get rid of exhaust gases and bring in fresh air for combustion.
It is classified as type bh venting.