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spill trips no chimney issue

hankwylerjr
hankwylerjr Member Posts: 149
edited November 2023 in Strictly Steam

I have a small Penco where the boiler shuts off after about 10 minutes but sometimes not for a day or so. This is a brand new boiler and we have inspected the chimney and flu vent pipes no obstruction visible with inspection cameras. Also visibly observed normal fumes from top of chimney during use. Does anyone have any guesses as to what it can be besides an obstruction? Thermo, Gas valve is Honeywell everything brand new thanks in advance

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,326
    Chimney down-drafting?

    Burners over-fired?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Mad Dog_2hankwylerjr
  • hankwylerjr
    hankwylerjr Member Posts: 149
    No CO detectors go off even near boiler Im going to run a combustion test but I don't see any soot might check the damper but again brand new maybe not adjusted properly? and far as the burners Ill revisit the issue as we thought that this issue was resolved thx
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,563
    Where is the combustion air coming from? Exhaust fans in the house? Big kitchen hood?

    How is the chimney top in relation to the roof and surrounding trees?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Mad Dog_2ScottSecorhankwylerjr
  • realliveplumber
    realliveplumber Member Posts: 354
    If the spill switch is tripping, then there is an issue with the chimney.

    What Material? What size? what else is venting in the same flue?
    hankwylerjr
  • hankwylerjr
    hankwylerjr Member Posts: 149
    The house is old. Boiler is in basement we vented it after inspecting the chimney. Basement doesn't appear to have any drafts no kitchen hoods etc. Unless there is a draft I'm missing or something else. Chimney is high up no trees or other obstructions there are three chimneys on this building not near each other others are working fine. I installed caps with mesh last year. Im still thinking running a new chimney liner down maybe aluminum as its at 83 percent effiencent I think or a power vent but don't want to keep sinking money into it like to find the issue why its keeps shutting down.
  • hankwylerjr
    hankwylerjr Member Posts: 149
    The chimney is brick with old flu we didn't see anything visible that would cause it to trip. Nothing else venting besides that. Standard sized chimney didn't measure house is from 1956 but chimney is newer
  • hankwylerjr
    hankwylerjr Member Posts: 149
    edited November 2023
    What size liner can I use here if I chose to go that route to rule out other cause? 3 or 4 or more inch liner? Also does anyone know which category this boiler is? thx in advance
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,563
    An exhaust fan can cause a backdraught no matter where it is in the house. Unless that basement has a good deal of ventilation from outside...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Mad Dog_2hankwylerjr
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,157
    Do you have one of these ?
    Unless you have a way to see what invisible air is doing, you are just guessing.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Mad Dog_2hankwylerjr
  • Bob Harper
    Bob Harper Member Posts: 1,083
    Ask your chimney guy for a Level II inspection report. There's a lot that may seem innocuous that can adversely affect venting. The liner is a huge one. Don't waste money on aluminum. Get ss for life. The liner must be properly sized as should be the connector.
    You said the boiler shuts off. Does this mean the spill switch on the draft hood trips or the ignition drops out? Big difference.
    You need someone to measure the inlet gas pressure under full load and compare with the rating plate, which states 5 wci.
    You may need someone who can test for negative pressure in the Combustion Appliance Zone or CAZ. This would cause a flow reversal.
    CO alarms are useless to detect spillage. Run combustion analysis.
    realliveplumberSTEVEusaPAhankwylerjr

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