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Lochinvar 285 boiler not firing

Montana123
Montana123 Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL

Hell, My lochinvar boiler is giving me gray hair. It is a propane unit and it will not fire with the clear tube on the gas valve. When i take it off it fires but sometimes it has a rattle at full fire. I've tried to set the low fire combustion and the high fire combustion, with the tube on, but it seems like it works for a half an hour then it will not light anymore. Also the combustion readings are not very stable. I've read a similar post here that says cleaning the heat exchanger fixed it. If it is a dirty heat exchanger how do i clean it. It is a fire tube boiler. I have not done that yet but would like to hear anyone's opinion and facts to help me fix my problem. Thank You

Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,667
    edited November 25

    Hello Montana123,

    Have you read the complete maintenance section of the manual ?

    https://www.lochinvar.com/lit/KH-I-O_Rev%20J_100267332_2000508039%20%2810778_3000021144%29.pdf

    image.png

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,635
    edited November 25

    I was told by another contractor about a Lochinvar fire tube boiler running on propane that had a similar problem and was told that the the fire tubes were all gummed up and had to be cleaned. What all gummed up meant is subject to interpretation. If so, check with your gas suppler as to the quality of the gas.

  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,066

    Yeah clean the heat exchanger. its not hard to get apart if you have the right tools. you'll need torx drivers and long screw drive.

    how old is your boiler?

  • Montana123
    Montana123 Member Posts: 3
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822580#Comment_1822580

    It is like a 2015. To be specific it is a WHN285. So will rinsing it through with plain water work? I have read that the manufacturer does not recommend and cleaners or such.

  • Montana123
    Montana123 Member Posts: 3
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822576#Comment_1822576

    it is gummed up but i can say it is due to the propane quality. I haven't been able to get the combustion right for some time and that I why I have buildup, I think

  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,635
    edited November 26

    You did do a NG to PG conversion, I hope. There is a specific conversion kit for that boiler and the markings have to match and be installed correctly. Sometimes the brass orifice is installed backwards or the fan connection is not correctly installed (arrow up). If you can't get a correct combustion adjustment, recheck the gas conversion.

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,548
    edited November 26
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822614#Comment_1822614

    No, water isn’t gonna due a thing for it. The bottom part of the heat exchanger is making water when it’s condensing. You’re gonna need a solution that’s strong enough to remove crud that’s been baked on.

    Lochinvar may not like it, but Red Lye or equivalent is all that I’ve found that works.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,066

    i would hire a professional to do the PM. If you have not done a PM since its been installed (2015) its going to probably be in rough shape. When you convert from NG to Propane and after you installed the propane venturi you have to perform a combustion test. It needed to be commissioned so the homeowner knows it was set up properly. The burner could be junk at this point also. At minimum it needs to be blown out with compressed air. This frees all the trap dirt and bugs in the burner.

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