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Large yellow flame

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iizbor3d
iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
in Radiant Heating
I suddenly noticed on my Williamson GWA-140 a bright yellow light coming through the front cover that was never this evident. It seems to me the pilot flame is large and very yellow. Only work recently done was the chimney was relined from clay to steel. The gas valve is the original one from 2011. I also noticed the thermocouple seems very charred possibly melted? I've cleaned the burners and the pan below before the heating season. Is it time for a new gas valve?

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,651
    Some possibility of clean the pilot burner so it can get enough air and possibly turn down the adjustment for the pilot burner or maybe make sure something hasn't happened to the orifice in the pilot burner like it loosened up or got damaged in some weird way.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,089
    I'd say you need a pro. Could be a gas valve. Could be a gremlin bored out the pilot orifice when you we're looking. Hope you shut off the gas supply. 
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,865
    You need a new pilot assembly, and have the draft checked, make sure the boiler flue passages are clear and have them do a combustion test. It should have been done when the chimney was worked on
    Big Ed_4
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,238
    get a new pilot assembly. how is that even functioning
  • iizbor3d
    iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
    EBEBRATT-Ed said:

    You need a new pilot assembly, and have the draft checked, make sure the boiler flue passages are clear and have them do a combustion test. It should have been done when the chimney was worked on

    New pilot assembly ordered, chimney guys definitely didn't do a combustion test. I've been intrested in getting my own combustion analyzer, is Testo brand the recommended one? Will be replacing gas valve also.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,865
    Yes , Testo is VG
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,089
    edited March 2024
    iizbor3d said:
    You need a new pilot assembly, and have the draft checked, make sure the boiler flue passages are clear and have them do a combustion test. It should have been done when the chimney was worked on
    New pilot assembly ordered, chimney guys definitely didn't do a combustion test. I've been intrested in getting my own combustion analyzer, is Testo brand the recommended one? Will be replacing gas valve also.
    If you're replacing the gas valve, then you also need a manometer. 
    I'm currently using the Testo 300 which I like a lot more than the 310.
  • iizbor3d
    iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
    HVACNUT said:
    iizbor3d said:
    You need a new pilot assembly, and have the draft checked, make sure the boiler flue passages are clear and have them do a combustion test. It should have been done when the chimney was worked on
    New pilot assembly ordered, chimney guys definitely didn't do a combustion test. I've been intrested in getting my own combustion analyzer, is Testo brand the recommended one? Will be replacing gas valve also.
    If you're replacing the gas valve, then you also need a manometer. 
    I'm currently using the Testo 300 which I like a lot more than the 310.
    I have a fieldpiece SDMN5, should be able to properly adjust the gas valve with it. 
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,651
    your problem does not appear to be the gas valve. Maybe 30 years of a misadjustment of the pilot regulator/valve but not likely something actually broken in the valve.
  • iizbor3d
    iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
    mattmia2 said:
    your problem does not appear to be the gas valve. Maybe 30 years of a misadjustment of the pilot regulator/valve but not likely something actually broken in the valve.
    The valve is making a buzzing sound. Tested the voltage to the valve without load and under load, everything seems to be in spec. I'd like to replace it just in case and hold this valve for emergency purposes. 
  • iizbor3d
    iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
    New pilot assembly and gas valve installed. Results look much more blue. Thank you all for the help! 
    HVACNUT
  • iizbor3d
    iizbor3d Member Posts: 40
    edited April 2024
    Got a Testo 310 results seem good except for the draft test.

    CO: 2ppm
    CO2: 6.78%
    O2: 8.9%
    Eff: 80%
    Tstack: 392 F

    The draft would keep bouncing between 0 to -0.004"wc when inserted 6" above the boiler. The draft would mostly hold on 0. However if I insert the probe into the draft hood the draft would be between -0.004 to -0.008. 

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