Salt test for boiler?

Perry_3

In addition to asking for the $68.00 back - why don't you file a complaint with the Better Business Bureua (and/or Chamber of Commerce if they accept complaints) explaining that the contractor is using a fradulent test to sell fraudulent expensive fixes.

If there is something wrong with your boiler and the CO alarm was valid - adding a "flue collector" is not the fix.

I don't know any practical way to collect flu gas... Just what are they collecting anyway?

Perry

DFuerst

salt test

My carbon monoxide alarm went off. I called a heating and cooling company. I have radiant heat. They performed a "salt test" on my boiler for $68 ( and then proceeded to tell me I needed $1300 in repairs...for a flue collector). A second opinion showed I just needed a good cleaning with a shop vac. I'm told from several people that you don't do salt tests on boilers...if so, should I ask for my $68 back?

Unknown

Salt Test?

A new-one on me, I`ll watch what the others say. What was the techs name, Simon Cowell?

Dave

brucewo1b

Herad of but never done one

A salt spray test is a test for heat exchanger cracks, disconnect the blower motor so it will not run. The warm air plenum is opened for access, then a Water/salt mix is sprayed into the burners when on and a propane torch is passed over the area above the heat exchanger in the plenum, salt will pass through the crack and the blue propane flame will turn orange.This can only be used on older 60% efficient or less furnace, it can not be used with any furnace that is a power Vented

Eric Johnson

So you would only do it on a forced air furnace and not a boiler, right?

Unknown

Is that older

technology Bruce er,,,kinda sounds like the old "halide torch" for refrigerant leaks, remember them?

Dave

brucewo1b

Yes gas

60 percent atmaophereic furnaces that I know of. I could see it being done to find out where flue gases are leaking but see above on corrosion.

brucewo1b

Yes it does

Dave, I have see one but never in use.

Unknown

LOL

Bruce, that`s how we used to find refrigerant leaks in the "old days". It was like a homeowners propane torch with a rubber pipe or tube attached before the burner nozzle on the torch, we waived it over the joints, and if the flame changed color, that indicated a leak. "Crappy method" but at that time, that`s the way it was done.

Dave

william_5

First let me say if you alarm went off you should not be in the house untill you know for shore why it went off. find a pro and have it taken care of asap. as bruce stated the salt will burn a color. alot of info is missing $1300 for a flue collector on a boiler ??? i think that is way out of the ball park $1300 for a heat exchanger but with out knowing the boiler its hard to say. ok on a furance. as far as i know you would do a salt test on a furance not a boiler. A flue collector on a boiler is something you would see is bad on a yearly cleaning. you would not need a salt test for that. what is the name of the boiler and how old is it? what i would want to know is what #s did they come up with on carbon monoxide meater? bed rooms kitchen ,bathroom, basement,garage? what was the co2? over the fire ?, at the chimney? what was the draft over fire ?, at the breach? what was the smoke test# ? is the chimney base clean did they check it? is the chimney blocked ? do you have a atic fan and was it switched on ? do you have small holes in the smoke pipe? or cement missing from your chimney? this is some things I would want to know

Wiliam

jim lockard

Salt Spray

For years I have used a salt spray to check the heat exchangers in gas furnaces. Never heard of it done on a boiler can not even think how you could do a salt spray test on a boiler. This is how I do it and why. I bring the fire on in the furnace and watch for a lazy flame or flame disturbance when the fan kicks on, if I see either one I open the blower compartment spray the fan and filter soaking wet with salt water. I then close the blower compartment foil tape it so that I have no air leaks and fire up the furnace. When the fan comes on and the flame turns pumpkin orange I then know that environmental and combustion air have mixed and with high pressure going to low pressure I may have a leaky and cracked heat exchanger.
Call you salt tester and ask for your money back. Best Wishes J.Lockard

william_5

First let me say if you alarm went off you should not be in the house untill you know for shore why it went off. find a pro and have it taken care of asap. as bruce stated the salt will burn a color. alot of info is missing $1300 for a flue collector on a boiler ??? but with out knowing the boiler its hard to say. .i think that is way out of the ball park $1300 for a heat exchanger ok on a furance as far as i know you would do a salt test on a furance not a boiler. A flue collector on a boiler is something you would see is bad on a yearly cleaning. you would not need a salt test for that. what is the name of the boiler and how old is it? what i would want to know is what #s did they come up with on carbon monoxide meater? bed rooms kitchen ,bathroom, basement,garage? what was the co2? over the fire ?, at the chimney? what was the draft over fire ?, at the breach? what was the smoke test# ? is the chimney base clean did they check it? is the chimney blocked ? do you have a atic fan and was it switched on ? do you have small holes in the smoke pipe? or cement missing from your chimney? this is some things I would want to know

Wiliam

lee_7

never heard of a salt test. Seems to be much easier to do a pressure test of furnace heat exchanger then to do this salt test. i would get a second opinion and then demand your $68.00 back as they ripped you off.

jim lockard

crappy?

With a little nitrogen behind that freon I still use a halide torch to find leaks. Better then an electronic beeping all over the cabinet. Best Wishes J.Lockard

jim lockard

Pressure test

Lee how would you do a pressure test on a 100,000 Btu furnace with 5 burners and a collector box type draft hood? J.Lockard

Unknown

William

you most certainly sound like a very knowledgeable person and we all value your opinion very much so, but perhaps try "slowing down" a-bit in your descriptions. Myself, I value what you say, but I have to read it 3 times to get what you mean. Believe me, no offense was intended here.

Dave

Unknown

Anybody

ever heard of a "smoke bomb test", we used to do that alot!

Dave

william_5

Dave thats ok I sound off faster than I can type

yes I do. how about soot sticks or bellows for a webster fuel pump ?
William

Unknown

Thanks William

I`ll say it once again, I meant No Offence! Soot Sticks?, PM me and we`ll talk.

Dave

Guy Woollard

Testing

Another old timer method of testing a HX was to put some oil of peppermint into the combustion chamber and see if the minty smell made it into the living areas in a big way.

As for the smoke candles: When I first started in oil, one of my jobs was to clean out a small storage area beneath our office. I came across a yellow smoke candle, damp and ugly (as was I by then). Being 18, I thought why not light it off as opposed to throwing it away.
Boy do those make a lot of smoke. Bright yellow smoke. Smoke that you really can't stop, although in hindsight, it was probably comical watching me tryN. My apologies to the neighbors.



Guy Woollard
N.E. Regional Sales Mgr
Triangle Tube Corp.