Gas valve failing

Putnajo

I have a Burnham IN-5 boiler that I believe is less than 10 years old. Starting four weeks ago, we noticed that we were getting less heat than usual. When I went to the basement, I noticed that the flame on the boiler was very quiet and when I looked at it, it was very low. We called PSE&G (worryfree) to come look at the boiler. PSE&G clocked the gas meter and determined that my gas valve had failed as it was not letting enough gas through (he indicated that the pressure was fine coming into the valve, but not enough gas was coming out). He replaced the gas valve and the boiler went back to normal.



For 2 weeks, all was fine. This morning, we woke up and I noticed that the house felt chilly. The boiler had been on for an hour and the radiators were only partially warm and not very hot. I went downstairs and looked at the flame and noticed that once again, it was very low. I also noticed that in the last couple of days it almost sounded like there was a crackle in the fire and when I looked at the flame, there was a good bit of orange in the flame, but I don't know if it's normal or not.



Could this be the gas valve again? What else could cause the flame to underfire? If it is the gas valve, is there something else that could be causing it to fail? What else can I have PSE&G look for?

Hap_Hazzard

Two gas valves in a month?

No way that's reasonable. My gas valve is about 30 years old. I'll probably throw it out when the boiler dies.



It sounds to me like some moisture or some other kind of impurities have gotten into your gas line somehow. A certain amount of water vapor is normal in natural gas, but it sounds like you're getting more than your share, and since you just accept what the gas company delivers, I can't see how this is your fault. It seems to me you've got a pretty good case if you want to argue that they're responsible for both valves.



I'm assuming, of course, that your gas line piping is up to code, with dirt pockets in all the required places, etc., or they would have said something when they replaced the valve.

jonny88

gas pressure

there was an incidence in a town on the south shore of long island where water got into the gas mains after sandy.a navien installer was having problems with his boilers shutting off.nat grid shut down the street and replaced main and after that intaller had no problems.