strong smell after boiler install
We had a new Burnham steam boiler installed exactly one week ago and we are (still) getting a pretty bad smell emanating from the basement (burnt rubber/chemical + slight oil smell) Had the installer come back and check it out. He claimed it was excess sealant from the manufacturer. He said he removed some and the smell should improve. Since then it’s only gotten worse to the point that we can smell it on the second floor of the house. Given the odor seems to be getting stronger I am starting to be concerned it will not just dissipate as the manufacturing oils/sealants burn off (id expect steady improvement if that was the case.)
Based on some other similar online threads I wonder if the cause might be improperly applied teflon in the new piping. Including a photo of the pipes for reference. Should I have the installer come back once again to take a look or should I just wait it out?
Comments
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You mentioned some other threads mentioning improperly applies Teflon tape. I'm guessing this thread might be one of them:
I'm not a heating pro, just a homeowner/engineer. From your pics it does look like Blue Monster tape, and the installer could well have wrapped the tape such that some of it got inside the pipes and is being exposed to steam. The thread I posted above mentions that as a possible cause of their bad chemical smell. Fred's solution in post #3 on the first page was to disassemble the piping, redo the joints so that no teflon tape got inside the pipe, and he says that solved the problem.
But you'll see other steam pros on that thread disagreed. I'm not a steam pro, so I don't have an opinion. You'll have to let the steam pros here comment.
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just had them come back and take a look. There was a melting piece of plastic inside the insulation in the boiler. Must have fallen inside when they were installing. Hopefully that was all it was. It would make sense given the increasing intensity of the smell
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plastic melts a 200*F?
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the teflon won't smell but the dope that was used with it might. you can scrub that off with paint thinner although you will smell that for a while. you could scrub it all with paint thinner then with a detergent like simple green. there is probably oil on the new pipe too that you can remove in the same way.
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the plastic could have been on the flue collector or some part of the firebox
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It's a new system it's going to have some smells for a while. Teflon and PTFE are usually fine up to 400-500F, that's not a problem nor is Blue Monster PTFE tape.
Let the system run for a few weeks and the smells will go away. Make sure you have the boiler skimmed a few times as oils wash out of the system into the boiler.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I would think that the cast iron block, reaches temperatures a lot higher than 200°.
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the teflon doesn't but the dope has oils and maybe solvents in it that smell a little especially when you heat it up. the insulation in the boiler may have binders that smell a bit too for a while.
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Is it normal to smell through multiple floors of the house and make you feel like you’re going to pass out? it’s a distinct burning plastic smell.
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Technician agrees this is abnormal. They are now taking apart the entire boiler to see what else might be burning up inside as removing the piece of plastic did not remediate the issue
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once the plastic is melted on to something it will take a while to burn off. could be a missing seal somewhere too
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The cast iron is hopefully water cooled and shouldn't get much higher than 212-215.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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That depends on the person honestly.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I would tend to agree except high on the castings where there's no or very little liquid water I would think it could get hotter.
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
not by much!
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Could it be some oil etc in the water line causing the oil smell then coming out main vents or radiator vents depending on pipe system. Maybe this would explain why on all floors you are smelling it.
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I was wondering about that too Tim but the description of burnt rubber made me think that couldn't be it. Probably not a boiler additive either with that description, but who knows what they put in there. The only thing it definitely isn't is the teflon tape.
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
My knowledge of physics is really quite poor. But I would think the following. The cast iron is what is heating the water. In order for the cast iron to heat the water to 212, I would think that the cast iron needs to be significantly hotter than 212.
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Try to solder a pipe full of water.
It's actually an interesting question though. How hot will the outside of a cast iron pot full of water get with a flame under it.....
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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it really is more of a burnt plastic smell rather than oil and does not seem to be emanating from the vents. Seems to be strongest right around where the boiler is though we can now smell it on all floors.
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The cast iron I would think is definitely hotter than 212 when firing. There is quite a bit of oil on cast iron sections from the casting process. I was thinking that if not skimmed a bunch yet that the oil gassing off into vapor and then coming out air vents could cause a similar to plastic smell along with cutting oil, some pipe dope etc. Just a thought. I would think any thing on the fire side, boiler room side of heat exchanger would be burned off by now.
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The water definitely reduces the heat of its metal container. But I would think that the metal will always be a lot hotter than the water contained within. My apologies to the OP for side tracking the conversation
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check all the electrical connections and make sure a loose connection isn't burning up.
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So the final verdict from the technicians is the smell is from the pipe dope used since the smell is strongest around the new piping above the boiler. If that’s the case any idea how long until it dissipates?
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Final final.2v5
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
Best guess, a few months before it's totally gone.
But it's going to get better and better every time the system runs.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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If it is the dope, would it help to take a small wire brush or stiff bristle brush and some non-flammable solvent and clean as much exposed dope off as possible? You won't get it all off, but you may be able to get most of it and knock the smell level way down while you wait the 1-2 months for the rest of it to offgas.
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Honestly think I might just wait it out if it’s not a health concern. I can deal with headaches for a little while as long as i’m not going to get cancer or something.
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Might scrape some off though why not. Seems like a lot of it has fallen off on it’s own.
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If you had a modern new forced air system you could enjoy the possibility of ductboard blowing fiberglass dust throughout your house instead. I have no clue how big of a deal that is or isn't, I just know it's a big topic online. Search for ductboard health risks. My point is, don't feel this is because you have an old house etc. There's going to be concerns and annoyances with everything.
Personally I'd take the smelly pipe dope though. But headaches suck, that is for sure.
Can you vent the basement a little better in the meantime without risking freezing any plumbing?
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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Other option is to have installer come back and redo the piping without the dope
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As @ChrisJ mentioned, is there anyway to ventilate the basement without risk of pipes freezing? I'd be inclined to open my basement windows and open every window in my house a couple inches. Set the heat to 70-72 and just let it cook overnight or for a day or two.
Sure, you'll waste a few bucks on fuel but maybe you can reduce the 2-3 weeks of low-and-slow to 2-3 days of hot-and-fast?
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or just clean the exposed dope and oil on the pipe off with solvent. just do it with ventilation so it doesn't blow up.
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Will give this a shot.
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It's possible.
But there's no way I'd consider it just for the cost alone.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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You never know. Hard to imagine it's actually the dope. Looks like a regular grey pro dope. Probably the best smelling dope out there. As usual, I could be mistaken
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Yeah it doesn’t seem like it should smell this much you’re right. If it isn’t the dope though seems I am out of options here
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By yourself some dope. Put a glob of it on one of the steam pipes by the boiler. See what it smells like.
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Has anyone taking off the boiler jacket? Looked in between the boiler sections? My apologies if this was mentioned above.
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Yes they did take off the boiler jacket. There was a small piece of plastic they found in the insulation but I don’t think that was the cause of the smell since the smell is way stronger around the pipes above the boiler (and hasn’t improved at all since they removed the piece of plastic)
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