Dirty gas boiler pic

GW

I think twice now about telling people gas runs clean-doesn't need to be checked out. I thought I had a pic of the burner tubes all gooped up, I guess not. What a pain to take these boilers apart!

Notice the dirty siding on the house on the last shot.

Gary

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EDDIE GRIERSON_2

Good point

All equipment needs to be serviced and maintained. Especially with the way some people install it. If people don't think you have to service gas, take a 90+ propane gas furnace and soot it up, you won't be cleaning that secondary heat exchanger, you'll be replacing it.

Unknown

What was the cause of this???

It is typically not caused by the gas. I am looking at the vent exit and it is possible that air for combustion may be contaminated by flue gas. Just curious Gary what did you find caused this??

Duncan_4

Funny...

That was gonna be my question too, Timmie. It's one thing to treat the symptoms, another to find the cause.

EDDIE GRIERSON_2

wondering

Is that black cpvc pipe on the outside the water heater exhaust? Is that gas valve on the water heater a defective one that had been replaced? Where is the combustion air coming from? Just curious, also wondering what you found.

GW

gas

oops, wrong coice of words I guess- certailnly it wasn't the fuel's fault!

The boiler was impinging on the left. Now what caused the inpingment I don't know- like the chicken and the egg- it was either the burners fault or a fault of the environment. I'm very sorry to say I don't remember all the particulars, this was done several weeks ago, if not longer.

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GW

water heater

exhaust is abs, which is approved by many manufacturers. The gas valve was there when I got involved... how does that relate? There is a dryer close by, possible culprit?

Gary

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GW

water heater

exhaust is abs, which is approved by many manufacturers. The gas valve was there when I got involved... how does that relate? There is a dryer close by, possible culprit?

Gary

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GW

water heater

exhaust is abs, which is approved by many manufacturers. The gas valve was there when I got involved... how does that relate? There is a dryer close by, possible culprit?

Gary

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GW

wall

is there anyone else having problems with this? sorry for the double post

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Herb

sooted boiler

The leading culprit that I see is a poorly installed dryer next to the boiler. Dryers produce alot of lint and they should never be installed near a water heater or boiler. To compound their error, they used a flexible vent that quickly fills with lint and is run along the side of the boiler! If that vent has a hole in it then it could easily clog the burners or interfer with the combustion of the burners. The third point might be a combustion air problem. When all three blowers are running, is there enough makeup air? The dryer's holding the smoking gun from what I see.
Herb @ Gibbs Gas Service

Steamhead

Gary, I sent Noel a heads-up

since it's one of his boilers. I know he will be interested to find out what's wrong.

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Unknown

Dryer can change the pressure in

the room in addition to adding lint and moisture to the air. That in addition to bleach which is in the damp wet clothes and gets into the air. The rusted top to the boiler could be a result of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in the room contaminating the air supply.

GermanPlumber

Dirty gas boiler

Yes Gas is burning cleaner than oil.As long the ventury is clean, the burner, the gasvolume is set ok etc. We have a law in Germany that makes it a duty for homeowner,s to get the units serviced. I found amazing things sometime. And if you work with an combustion tester you will see how small the setting sometimes is. Once you get over 250 PPM CO you will have some trouble. I had units sometimes with 4000 PPM and the only thing you can do is replacing the heat exchanger*soot* etc. I am always amazed that not more is going on here in the US when i see how people treat there boilers. Dirty, rust on gaslines, noone does a combustion test. But thats live i guess,

Mario

GermanPlumber

Dirty gas boiler

Just saw the picture with the combustion tester. The way the unit is connected there will be w wrong reading. False Air etc. You should drill a 1/2" hole in the flue pipe around 2 times the diameter away from top of furnace. Then compare your readings you will be shocked.

All the best, Mario

Joe Grosso

unbelivable

How more people do not die with the way they take care of their heating units.Dust,lint cat and dog hair,saw dust and ect

Steve Levine

Vent termination

There have been many good points brought up by the othere replies. There are many variables that can contribute. By the way, if you look at the top of the boiler, it looks like rust to me. Additionally, the 'stuff' in the bottom of the boiler may be rust particles from the cast iron. I suspect that this boiler is running at very low temperatures and condensing.

Slant/Fin does not have a tee approved for the termination on a horizontal venting installation. It calls for an elbow. The tee contributes to the stains on the siding AND allows the wind to affect combustion.

Steve

Unknown

Gary,

Lots of good questions here, I'd like to add one more.

What is the gas pressure on the boiler manifold with all of those gas appliances running? That 3/4" pipe may be marginal.

Call here at Slant/Fin at 800 873 4346 ext 456 if I can be of help.

Noel

kevin

Steve...

I betcha the rust on top of the boiler is from the proximity to the laundry...makes a real nice shelf for the detergent,dryer sheets,etc...those bottles never leak...kpc

Tommy Stojanov

A neighbor and I just ended up replacing a Bryant furnace he installed in a distant relative's home years ago. They never called for cleanings, and another question: how can someone clog one of those cheap fiberglass filters!! The cells had a healty coat of dog hair and junk. The water heater pilot blew out- I relit it, was burning quite dirty, and you could smell the dog hair burning. They didn't want anything done about it. Don't get me started on Greek owned restaurants- no offense intended to those who do maintennance.