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Buderas motorized exhaust question

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slateroof
slateroof Member Posts: 17
in Gas Heating

My house came with a 20 year-old Buderas natural gas boiler ( with baseboards). Last winter is worked ok. Had it cleaned this summer, but now there is a faint gassy smell in the basement. The smoke/carbon monoxide sensor has not gone off. Going to he back of the boiler, looking up at the motorized exhaust damper, it seems to open just a little ( see photos: first image is in the closed position, second image shows the damper at maximum opening, when pushed with a probe). Should it be opening more than this? Thanks for any comments about this!

IMG_5047.jpeg IMG_5050.jpeg

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,731
    edited October 2024

    It should fully open.

    DON’T operate the boiler unless it opens fully!

    You and your family are at a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning!

    You should have it checked immediately by a competent technician or the gas company.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    slateroof
  • slateroof
    slateroof Member Posts: 17

    Thanks for the warning. Any idea what could cause the damper to not open fully? Any way to manually open it until the technician arrives?

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,731

    It shouldn’t allow the burner to fire if it’s not fully opened, so something is seriously amiss.

    No, I don’t see any way that you can safely bypass it under those circumstances.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    slateroof
  • slateroof
    slateroof Member Posts: 17

    postscript for this post: The technician removed the motor housing to expose the exhaust damper. It was not opening fully due to a sticky hinge. The damper is opened by the suction of the squirrel-cage fan, so any slight friction will prevent it from operating properly. Graphite would seem the proper lubricant for this high-temperature application.

    EdTheHeaterMan

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