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Rich Kontny and Rheem drum furnace

Riverrat35
Riverrat35 Member Posts: 16
in THE MAIN WALL
with rheem drum. I know this is a wet head site.I'm half wet since Ihave done some Scorched air ,hydronic ,steam.I have one up and running (not mine).10 years after new heat exchanger.got the temp rise within specs.runnin fine.(oh no now it will give me probs).is there somthing i need to worry about this furnace.btw just finished install of Knight KBN 399 will uploade some pics when i get it purdy lookin.

Comments

  • Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2
    Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2 Member Posts: 377
    pin holes

    The drum-style heat exchangers are notorious for developing pin-holes that go undetected. We've changed out a boat-load of them over the past decade.
  • ddlong1286@yahoo.com
    ddlong1286@yahoo.com Member Posts: 139
    What is

    the best way to detect them? Remove and visually inspect?

    What problems will these pin-holes give you?

    Wondering if this would explain some problems with this style furnace that I have run into in the past.

    Thanks

    Don in MO
  • Riverrat35
    Riverrat35 Member Posts: 16
    if it goes in

    lock out suspect the heat exchanger.easy way is check the air in the supply plenum with a co meter.then visually inspect.also if it shuts down when the blower comes on you should expect holes.it causes a higher pressure in side the drum.,causing the pressure switch to shut down the burner.
  • Mitch_4
    Mitch_4 Member Posts: 955
    BEST test

    is a flue gas analyzer with real time display, set to O2, if there is an O2 spike when the circulating blower kicks in..you have a hole.

    Co in the plenum is a poor test usually as most FA heat exchangers are under NEGATIVE pressure..you can get a read if the hole is flammin big enough..the O2 test is more accurate.

    Mitch B
  • John Mills_4
    John Mills_4 Member Posts: 43
    look

    Pull the ignitor and look in at the heat exchanger, can even pull the burner. Cracks tend to form in the back or also on the sides of the drum. One other way we've found is to seal heat exchanger, put your draft gauge or other air pressure measuring device in the heat exchanger, maybe through the burner opening. If the gauge goes strongly positive when the blower is turned on, get suspicious.

    http://johnmills.net/hvacshots/pages/drum1.html

    They like to crack where the drum attaches to the backplate. The picture above doesn't show that.
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