Gas Boiler issues

Evanmch

Hey everyone new here. Recently had a company come out to do an annual service on our Burnham natural gas boiler. It’s just for the baseboard heat we have a separate hot water heater. The technician who came out got there when my wife was home and I came home towards the end of the inspection of the unit. He said our gas valve was faulty and showed me on his hand held gas detector that it was reading gas levels after the gas control valve even on a no heat call. The unit was off at the emergency switch on the side but main gas valve to the unit was still on. He had the meter directly on the tubes that run into the unit that bring the air and gas mixture in(from what I can remember). He said the gas control valve most likely isn’t closing fully. The unit also has a standing pilot. We decided to get a second quote just to make sure we were getting a decent price on any repairs. The second technician came out from a separate company today and told us there was no leak and that our boiler despite being old and probably should be replaced soon regardless, was safe to use. My question is this, was the first tech just trying to scare us into getting a new boiler through their company? Or is there always some type of readable gas from where he put the meter even with the emergency switch is off. The second tech said he couldn’t believe me when I pointed out where the first tech place his gas detector and that he doesn’t smell nor see anything wrong with our gas control valve. Should I be worried at all? I have 2 conflicting reports back about my boiler. I’ve read online with a standing pilot even with the emergency switch off you can still have a small gas flow. Wouldn’t that be a danger?

jesmed1

I'm not a heating pro, so I'm not going to comment on whether or not the first guy was scamming you.

But as a homeowner with several gas appliances, (range, water heater, Jotul gas stove for porch heat) I highly recommend you get yourself an inexpensive gas detector like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Detector-PT177-Portable-Combustible/dp/B0BQYQZF22/ref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa?crid=23EYGHW28W2P8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wFwECTFpSp-_8wc_UyP2dikhDxDX88ibDC66NDQtUvicW-etLX3t4pqm9SVtXyrbX4uRkVHxhD201RsJ0Jl2nkIyOS-Ze3rdc1V-4-Sj9G7d-n_i__o9Ajk-1NMMckmM3wUHRTU7fOo95BVvbd0vWTjg9UvlFqdaHTCbPV9ZY9JdnO9qZlsxaq489OhCRBd3u2cfeEFavI3HMqagI3qEOmUsPNmGpjJp1JbyP68NGAeNDvA_E2kmLWJNq4G_jIgcxQXVQ5WJme8k36ttAzYEzBkm3JyGfRcB_PmPCMrOdjY.ZZwFnAioYyrllGT8eRVTs25pHtLfbyQG47tuQ3vrvaQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Natural%2Bgas%2Bdetector&qid=1734494423&sprefix=natural%2Bgas%2Bdetector%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Then you can do your own leak detection and know when someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. You can experiment with it and find surprising things…like it will detect the methane in your breath from digestive gases…now when I fire up my gas detector, I just breath on it to make sure it's working.

As you experiment with it, you'll find it will "alarm" on natural gas combustion products (like near a standing pilot). You'll find that's normal, because there are some unburned hydrocarbons that escape from a pilot flame, without being dangerous.

Once you try it on different sources and see what alarms and what doesn't, you'll be better able to judge what is a real gas leak and what is not.

HVACNUT

Pretty vague. Pics, the tool used, and which "gas" he was referring to would be helpful. Did he leave an invoice? Maybe his Service Manager can explain it to you.

delcrossv

My dubious meter is clicking. 🤔