CO - What a topic!

Darin Cook_3

As far as I am aware the digital combustion analyzer is the only one on the market that gives you all the numbers you need. Co, CO2 ,O2, temperature, just no smoke test as far as oil goes. All of us know (or should) that things can change very quickly. Chimneys that were venting are now downdrafting, chimney is pulling like a bear but unfortunately the curtain effect is happening and the appliance is spilling into the basement(true story). Maybe the customer had a kitchen renovation and put in a 1000cfm exhaust fan and every time they run the fan the chimney becomes a fresh air makeup (true story). Maybe all the pidgeons that became sleepy and fell down the chimney have now blocked it off (true story). Maybe the homeowner also has a A/C system but it was scabbed in and all the return pulls out of the basement (true story). There are many ways that things can effect the combustion process, but you have to be able to identify them. Employee #39 (if he was real) is a example to follow, alot of people have posted they like to feel or see or hear the unit, and you can run with that but you still need to test in the end. Alot of that sounds like the oldtimers setting the burner up by eye. Then the guys with fyrite analyzers came down on them.

As time goes by new technology keeps coming out. We will have to embrace it like it or not. How many people set their circulators pumping away now? How many people use outdoor reset? How many people put in oil boilers without a swingout door? There are just better ways of doing things. When Riello oil burners first came out people ran screaming away,they are too hard to work on, now for alot of us they are a burner of choice, easy to work on. Change does not always come easy.

There has been some personality clashes here, especially on the CO topic. It seems to me that complete combustion analysis should be second nature to us all. But we are not made to do it. I feel it is cheap insurance for all parties involved. Everyones ego's aside this is a issue that involves us ALL. I do not care if you teach ,install, service, sell, or own the equipment. You need to be aware of what is going on with all these things that burn around us.

My initial comment about employee #39 was made with good intentions. I think myself and my business partner Mark run a progressive company. We aspire to be the best that we can in our endeavors with the company. I can personally testify to the amount of hours and money spent on CO training and research. Is he absolutely gung-ho about this issue? You better believe it. I support him 100% on this. We have beautiful pieces of artwork called heating systems out there. But health and safety issues ALWAYS come first. This trade requires alot of knowledge and continuing education. But alot of people see us represented as the guy bent over with his butt crack hanging out, not one of the sharpest tacks in the box. . We all need to change that image and this combustion testing battle is part of that.

I am really looking forward to going to ISH. Everyone fighting here is sitting on the CO panel. It ought to be very interesting. I will relish the oppurtunity to debate with Tim and George directly. There will no doubt be a massive flow of information, much to be learned by all.

To myself it seems that testing with the best equipment available and getting the complete combustion picture should be a non-issue. I want to do the best that I can do for my customers and I believe that complete combustion testing is part of it.

The future of this trade is in ALL of our hands.




Thanks so much,

Darin