black velveteen

Unknown

for boilers to carbon up.

Make sure you have adequate air for combustion.

Is the air contaminated with chemicals, bleaches etc stored in the area?

Make sure there is not a pressurization problem in the house causing a reverse chimney effect.

Are the primary air shutters on the burners open to allow sufficient air?

When you installed the unit did you do a combustion test?

Does it have a vent damper?

Is this unit into a chimney and if so is it lined?

Once the unit is cleaned check all of these things. Then do a simple test :

1. Close all windows and doors.

2. Close fireplace damper.

3. Bring on every fan in the house.

4. Bring on all the gas equipment, including the dryer even if it is electric.

5. Test at the draft hoods of equipment to see if they are pulling (sucking a match up into the draft hood).

6. If not then you have a negative pressure problem.

Give us a little more detail on the exact system so I can maybe target a specific direction for you to follow.

bottomheater_2

what are the de facto causes of boiler "carborization"? Ive got a one year old steam gas unit that was running just fine, but today the flame roll-out fried and the flue ways are black velvet city. The combutstion air is plenty. Ive swept out similar cases, in older boilers, only to have them clog up again. I dont see any cause for condenstation or section incontinance in this new baby ( a Dunkirk).

Phil_6

Sheetrock dust...

...was the culprit on a few Burnham gas boilers I came across recently. The dust clogged up the burners and next thing you know...soot city. Wires fried, roll out switch cooked, boiler plugged up good.

In all fairness to Burnham, there is a tag hanging from every one of their boilers stating that the boiler shouldn't be operated under conditions where there is heavy dust like this. However, clearly the house can't be spackled without the heat on, either. Tough one.
Of course on a nice big renovation when the boiler is being replaced as part of a bigger job, you might actually be there to be able to prevent this, or clean it up after.

How someone who is finishing their basement 3 years later will know this is going to happen I don't know. They'll just call us after the fire dept leaves, I guess ;-)

Phil

peter desens

Factory help


Rather than covering all the possibilities in a lengthly reply, our factory technicians will be happy to assist you at 1-877-386-5475. Just ask for Mark or Bob in our technical service department.

Peter Desens
Technical services Manager
ECR International - Dunkirk Boilers