Delayed Ignition Problem

jim_14

A few years ago I had a problem with delayed ignition, the whole house would shake when the boiler turned on, of course it happens when its the coldest out and the boiler is constantly in demand.

We had it fixed and it worked fine, but now its creeping up again. Its not as bad as before but it still a little unsettling. Im having my heating guy come over to service it today but I wont be there to talk to him.

Can somone explain to me what exactly causes this, I had heard its like when you light your BBQ with a match, too much gas build up. And is there something that I the homeowner can do ,like an adjustment. I rather do simple jobs myself (if its simple) rather than wait for a heating tech.

thanks

ed wallace

hard start

no let your heating guy work on it to many varibles involede its not a dyi job

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Dennis - Reliable Services

delayed ignition

you don't mention if it is gas or oil.
If it's gas the burners are probably cast iron, as the boiler heats and cools little bits of rust and condensation fall onto the burners and plug the holes. When the gas valve opens the flame does not travel across the burners properly, gas builds up then bang!

If its oil then the oil is probably hitting the electrodes or the air band is open too much. Something is out of adjustment.

Unknown

Is it Gas or Oil?

different fuels different causes.

jim_14

Ok my heating guy came this afternoon and what do you know? Everything was fine. No hard start,nothing. In fact after I turned the heat down this morning, my wife turned it back up and it ran real smooth. BTW its gas, and yes cast iron.

Steve Ebels

For this problem

I would normally.

A. Remove and clean the burners

B. Check the pilot

C. Check for proper gas pressure

D. Do a combustion test to see if burner air adjustments are proper

E. Check draft

99 times out of 100 it will be one or a combination of those 5 things