Thermocouple - Yearly Srvc

Neil_5

Tim:

Thanks for your feedback, I was looking at my gas boiler, now with oil I know the filter, nozzle etc to be serviced yearly, but with gas (besides the thermocouple) I can only see the burners being cleaned and blown out and of course the combustion test. But from what I have read on this forum and talking to plp. not a lot of folks have the combustion equiptment.

Neil

Neil_5

Homeowner

I am a homeowner with a one year old Burnham Series 2 gas boiler. How often should the thermocouple be changed, dont want to wait for it to die and be stranded.

Also what yearly service should be done to the gas boiler as this post is similar to the oil service thread.

Thanks for the input,
Neil

[Deleted User]

Thermocouples

under the right conditions will last 10 years. It is a good idea to change it every 5 years just to be safe.

A gas boiler should have all the same annual checks as an oil boiler. The only difference is the burner service. The burners should be cleaned every year and a combustion test should be done.

[Deleted User]

Neil that is

probably true so look for one who does and stick with them. The efficiency of your equipment and safety depends on it.

Neil_5

Fundamental

Tim:

I am not trying to perform my own services, but just trying to undertand what is needed to keep the system healthy.

Now, if the bruners are cleaned, and you have sufficient air for combustion, on GAS BOILERS, what can change to degrade efficiency and or safety?

I had a company here on Long Island installed my Series 2 last September, and while the plumbing and gas piping was excellent the technical area was lacking. They installed a Tekmar 256 and the damn circ would only run when the boiler fire Had to rewire the entire system.

I did my own heat loss calculations etc. very difficult to find good companies I tell ya.

Neil

[Deleted User]

Without getting into

a full description of combustion testing of design equipment there are several things that can be done to improve equipment operation. Gas equipment is not tuned to its maximum efficiency out of the box.The primary air can be adjusted along with gas pressure in conjunction with monitoring CO2, flue gas temp, draft and most important carbon monoxide levels. When this is done adjustments to gas pressure can be made to bring equipment to its design operating perimeters relative to gas input.

Air for combustion is also a very important factor and needs to be calculated to insure it is adequate. The only real way to guarantee this is with mechanical air provisions with interconnection to the gas operating equipment.

This along with recent factors of gas perhaps having a higher BTU content per cubic foot makes combustion testing on an annual basis a plus and also a must.