Nozzle Change Warning Signs - Black Smoke

FrankT_123

All,

When i removed the stack off the oil boiler black smoke soot was coming out when running. The exchanger was full of soot. I have vacuumed out everything, added more oxygen with burner setting and did a smoke test for finer adjustment. Within a few months even after doing this in the past it always soots up again. Could this be a nozzle problem? any advice what i need to loot at?

Thanks,
Frank

STEVEusaPA

Could be any number of things, like a combustion air issue, improper seal somewhere around the heat exchanger (door gaskets, cleanouts), wrong nozzle, wrong pump pressure/failing pump, wrong z-dimension, dirty air handling parts, dirty end cone, improper draft, not set to true zero smoke, smoke test performed incorrectly and on and on...pick one or a few.
Why would you remove the stack and run the boiler...

woodrow

are you in the heating buisness

FrankT_123

I am not

FrankT_123

STEVEusaPA said:

Could be any number of things, like a combustion air issue, improper seal somewhere around the heat exchanger (door gaskets, cleanouts), wrong nozzle, wrong pump pressure/failing pump, wrong z-dimension, dirty air handling parts, dirty end cone, improper draft, not set to true zero smoke, smoke test performed incorrectly and on and on...pick one or a few.
Why would you remove the stack and run the boiler...

I took the stack off added more oxygen to eliminate black smoke, then added stack back for fine adjustment with smoke test.

woodrow

could be a lot of different things you should call a pro not trying to be rude

EBEBRATT-Ed

@FrankT-123

You need a tech to do a complete combustion test

HVACNUT

Do you live alone?

Jamie Hall

What on earth are you working on that you can take the stack off with any degree of safety at all?

And allow me to point out that taking the stack off to "add more oxygen" may -- or may not -- have done so, but if it did you have problems with the draught in the stack. Never mind whatever is going on in the combustion device.

As others have said, you need to make sure that you are using the correct nozzle; that all the pump settings are correct; that the air shutter and draught settings are correct; that the stack is clean and not obstructed... etc.

Unless you have access to the necessary test devices and know how to use them, you are not equipped to do this work.

BDR529

Overfired.

GW

I do enough oil to say I work on oil but I’m not an oil guy. I’ve seen two bad “new” nozzles in my day. Combustion analyzer picks this up right away. Actually one wouldn’t even light, thankfully it was a Buderus and I opened the door and shot the fuel into a bucket- confirmed my problem (more squirting than vapor)

Steamhead

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

@FrankT-123

You need a tech to do a complete combustion test

This. @FrankT_123 , where are you located?

FrankT_123

HVACNUT said:

Do you live alone?

Yes.

FrankT_123

I am on Long Island NY east end.

FrankT_123

Let me ask a basic question, and i do have other tools. I have done maintenance on these types of oil boilers for 30years in my own home.

With a beckett oil burner model ae-654551 is there a common issue that occur after a few months that would make the smoke test go from 0 to sootie?

Thanks,
Frank

FrankT_123

I found this.
https://www.beckettcorp.com/support/tech-bulletins/prevention-of-heating-appliance-soot-up/

STEVEusaPA

FrankT_123 said:

...With a beckett oil burner model ae-654551 is there a common issue that occur after a few months that would make the smoke test go from 0 to sootie?

Thanks,
Frank

Yes re-read my first post

SlamDunk

What the bulletin is telling you is you need a combustion analyzer to know what you are doing. There isn't much adjustment between great and dangerously awful.

Hiring a competent tech is a whole lot less expensive than buying an analyzer.

FrankT_123

Could this be an issue? I an using this nozzel
nozzel .75 80 degrees A

SlamDunk

FrankT_123 said:

Could this be an issue? I an using this nozzel
nozzel .75 80 degrees A

I would look up furnace/boiler make and model and see what was original. Different chambers have different requirements. It says so in the bulletin.

FrankT_123

Ok thanks all for your help. I believe i do have a combustion analyzer. If not I'll call a pro to look this over.

SlamDunk

If you had one, you would know.

FrankT_123

I figured that comment would be coming.

FrankT_123

SlamDunk said:

FrankT_123 said:

Could this be an issue? I an using this nozzel
nozzel .75 80 degrees A

I would look up furnace/boiler make and model and see what was original. Different chambers have different requirements. It says so in the bulletin.

The tag on the boiler is I.B.R Input G.P.H LT Oil 1.00
But this tag is from 1989, figure there could be better solution less oil. The last service done by a pro had the .75 nozzle

FrankT_123

woodrow said:

could be a lot of different things you should call a pro not trying to be rude

None taken thank you.

HVACNUT

I asked if you were living alone mostly to make sure you weren't putting other people in danger.
The east end of L.I.
There are many full service oil companies out there. You just need to pick one. This is not a hobby. It's not the burners fault. You're out of you're depth. Please call a pro.

Steamhead

@FrankT_123 , go here to find a proper tech:

https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/state/NY

Also- what make and model is the boiler that the Beckett burner is mounted on?

SlamDunk

Another reason to call a tech is to make sure the oil pump pressure is correct. This can change the flame dynamics too. A tech would have the equipment to measure pressure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_0FuBK46k

FrankT_123

FrankT_123 said:

SlamDunk said:

FrankT_123 said:

Could this be an issue? I an using this nozzel
nozzel .75 80 degrees A

I would look up furnace/boiler make and model and see what was original. Different chambers have different requirements. It says so in the bulletin.

The tag on the boiler is I.B.R Input G.P.H LT Oil 1.00
But this tag is from 1989, figure there could be better solution less oil. The last service done by a pro had the .75 nozzle

Oil Boiler Model Axeman & Anderson 140 PVT

FrankT_123

Just looking for help here. most probably feel i know enough to kill myself. I need to review this burner more and common maintenance. I feel if this was outside of the boiler eventually it would still start to soot up, just a hunch.

FrankT_123

SlamDunk said:

Another reason to call a tech is to make sure the oil pump pressure is correct. This can change the flame dynamics too. A tech would have the equipment to measure pressure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_0FuBK46k

Thanks for the video.

HVACNUT

> @FrankT_123 said:
> Just looking for help here.


We've given you help but you're not accepting it.
You are not a pro and nobody here is going to walk you through steps for a repair when you're not experienced and dont have the proper testing equipment.

If your Axeman is the old steel horizontal tube, that makes it even worse. There's probably air leaks all over that thing.

What town are you in?