Emerald/Columbia EM-110 with Beckett Burner Bright Yellow Mineral despoits in chamber

vinman

Hi All,
Thanks for taking time to read my post and provide any insight as I have never owned a oil boiler before.

I do not have any real issues except that I noticed a yellow rusty/crusty residue/mineral on the flue pipe so I decided to take the flue apart and noticed all of this weird colored HARD crust, I was expecting black soot. Please take a look at the pictures. The tubes were practically clogged, so I shop cleaned them very well and my heating service guy did not mention anything about it to me until I asked and he said, it means its burning clean? I goggled this and I cant find anything on it.

What is all the yellow/rusty colored crud?
Does it mean something is broke?
I have tried Hot 4 in 1 additive one year and then Archoil AR 6200 fuel additive the next year and after both years and hundreds of gallons of oil burners still the same result?

Some search results say High Sulfer content and some say cold water return or burner does not get hot enough but everything checks out ... I am out of guesses!




Thanks Guys
Vinny in PA

EBEBRATT-Ed

I would say flue gas condensation. Is the boiler underfired??, running to low a water temperature??
What are your combustion #s ??

Did the service tech use a combustion test equipment??

STEVEusaPA

Wasn't as bad as this one. I would agree with Ed. Underfired and possibly a blocked flue and or too much cold water returning to the boiler.
You should also get the tubes out, and pull the burner and clean out the chamber. If you look at my last pic you'll see the chamber was filled up to the air tube.
And you probably need a real oil burner tech.

Steamhead

Agreed. @vinman , what part of PA? That boiler needs professional help, but it'll run great when properly tuned.

newagedawn

ya ,looks like lake of maintenance and the homeowner not understanding the importance of flue gas temps and the temp of returning water, recomend service with someone who has the proper tools to ensure good combustion, looks like flue gas condensation

vinman

Hi All,
Yes I pulled the tube vents out and cleaned them well. I also took the beckett burner off and cleaned it as well as the chamber. There was not much in there, maybe 1/8 of and inch, after a vacuum it was nice and bright white inside. So I I have ZERO black soot/ash anywhere on this boiler, my only byproduct (if I can call it that) is the yellowish crusty minerals. I have no water dripping from my vent tube either. My boiler looks brand new (its @ 12 years old) besides the outside painted chimney having some brown stains running down the side of the painted brick near the chimney cap. I think my high temp shutoff on the boiler is set to 183 degrees (aluminum fin radiators) and I thought that was the recommended setting. Should I adjust it higher? Is there a low temp setting i should adjust? I live near king of Prussia PA and have called a few companies in the past and NONE of them did/said anything about this mineral issue so that's why I'm hesitant to call more people in.

Thanks
Guys

vinman

Hi Again,
I replied but it did not get posted. The boiler looks brand new at least to me, l cleaned the flue pipe (pretty empty), and the boiler pipes and the fire chamber. They were all pretty clean to begin with. The chamber box only had about 1/8 inch of mineral crust which vacuum out nicely and the chamber box is perfectly whitish. I think the flue temps must not be high enough, I guess the beckett burner needs more air or the barometric damper needs adjustment. I wish i could find a GOOD boiler guy, the ones so far have been schmo's IMO.

Steamhead

Where in PA are you located?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Looks like a decent install. There's got to be someone in your area who can service it.

Maybe @Steamhead is within reach

kcopp

IMO part of the issue it that it stays dormant all summer... judging from the electric water heater next to it.

STEVEusaPA

I'd say with 4 zones you're probably short cycling. You're also lacking boiler protection from low return water temps.

bob eck

No boiler bypass. To low water temp going back into the boiler. Boiler is condensing and pulling the sulfur out of the flue gas.