White chimney smoke

jeff_24

When you see white smoke coming from a chimney, does that necessarily mean that the steam boiler has a leak/crack....or can it be exhaust like that of a car on a COLD morning in New Jersey. My boiler is NOT losing water....and I have seen white smoke from the chimney the past couple weeks. Before that, never saw much...but the temp here is way BELOW normal....15 degrees.....

Steamhead

If you're not losing water

it's probably condensation. But keep an eye on it to be sure.

If there's a lot of condensation and you're not losing water, the burner may not be adjusted correctly. If the stack temperature is too low, this can cause a lot of condensation. Have it checked as too much condensation can weaken the brickwork in the chimney.

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Jeff_17

who should I have check it....

the local plumber or the local gas company? Will they understand when I say, "Check the stack temp?" Could I do it myself somehow? I have revamped my whole system thanks to Dan, his books and this web site.....

scrook_2

could just be

the water vapor in the burner combustion products condensing on contact w/ the very cold air. A leak would add more water vapor and create more white smoke. Watch water use and look at the neighbors chimneys too for a relative comparison.

Call either a local *heating* or *heating and plumbing* contractor, someone who does gas (and perhap oil) service (plus hydronics and steam work, vs primarily HVAC, A/C, heatpumps and hot air work -- some may do both, if so they'd be fine too). Gas Co. would be my last choice, unless I suspected an issue w/ gas main or meter freezing or low supply pressure or the like.

Mad Dog

From a cold start, you could see white smoke

from the hot flue gases hitting the cold chimnney. Mad Dog

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andy_5

I don't think I would be over concerned about a little white smoke.I know that when the temp.outside drops real low,natural gas companies add a little L.P. gas to the lines due to increase pressure drop and that will cause some white smoke too.

Jack, CVMS

White smoke

around here means something is being burned to keep the building warm. No smoke means that nothing is burning. Of course at 30 below there will be condensation from any fuel, so we see white smoke all over. Little plumes rising straight up from among the trees where you can't even see a building.
The distance above the top of the chimney/stack before the plume becomes visible gives a clue as to how well insulated the stack is, i.e. if it is white as it leaves the stack, it may be pretty cool and condensing inside the stack - usually not a good thing. But if it is a foot or so above the stack before it becomes visible, that usually is a sign that things are okay. The warmer the ambient temperature, the higher the vapor gets before condensing to become visible.