gas one-pipe steam odor

kostas

We just moved in to an old house with a brand new gas Utica boiler. When we turn on the heat after 30 minutes there is some fog/fume (that you notice at a sun ray) in the air of the house. There is an associated odor that gives us soar throat and smells something like tangy oil.
I would assume this comes out of the radiator air vents. Any theories/treatments?

David Efflandt

was boiler skimmed

1. Do you have one or more good working carbon monoxide detectors?

2. Was the boiler skimmed by the installer per instructions included with the boiler? There are oils used during manufacture of the boiler that need to be skimmed off of the top of the water in the boiler for a period of time while it is running.

I moved into an old home with a 2 yr old boiler and there are no odors associated with the radiators. I did have to replace some air vents and replace the packing on some shutoff valves, but even before I did that, the steam just evaporated (or turned to water) and did not cloud up the rooms. So something does not sound right with your system.

If your installer cannot fix it, check the "Find a Professional" link here.

Steamhead

First thing I'd do

is a complete combustion analysis on that boiler. The burners may be out of tune or there may be some other problem causing the odor and mist, which could contain carbon monoxide. Have a pro do this RIGHT NOW, since carbon monoxide is toxic.

The other possibility- and the more likely of the two- is dirt, sludge etc. in the system. This can be cured with a good water-side cleaning, which a pro should do also.

Try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone near you. If you're in the Baltimore area, e-mail me.

David Efflandt

was boiler skimmed

1. Do you have one or more good working carbon monoxide detectors?

2. Was the boiler skimmed by the installer per instructions included with the boiler? There are oils used during manufacture of the boiler that need to be skimmed off of the top of the water in the boiler for a period of time while it is running, while making sure it does not run dry.

I moved into an old home with a 2 yr old boiler and there are no odors associated with the radiators. I did have to replace some air vents and replace the packing on some shutoff valves, but even before I did that, the steam just evaporated (or turned to water) and did not cloud up the rooms. I would avoid running it until you can have it checked out.

Check the "Find a Professional" link here. If it is a CO or other combustion problem you certainly do not want to wake up dead.

ed wallace

smells

i looked at this boiler today its not piped to manufacterers specs, no skim port, rads not tilted correctly, needs air vents, return piping and hartford loop above water line got to love guys who dont read install manuals

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kostas

I do not have CO detectors and I know that the boiler has not been skimmed. This was the very first time this brand new boiler was turned on. There was a minute blue haze in the rooms which I assume came out of the radiator air vents. The boiler is in the basement and I have teh second and thrid floors in this 3 storie house.

Do you still believe could be a (and) CO issue? How important is skimming because I have been told that depending on how you set up a boiler you can avoid performing skimming.

thanks for your help!

kostas

> is a complete combustion analysis on that boiler.

> The burners may be out of tune or there may be

> some other problem causing the odor and mist,

> which could contain carbon monoxide. Have a pro

> do this RIGHT NOW, since carbon monoxide is

> toxic.

>

> The other possibility- and the more

> likely of the two- is dirt, sludge etc. in the

> system. This can be cured with a good water-side

> cleaning, which a pro should do also.

>

> Try the

> Find a Professional page of this site to locate

> someone near you. If you're in the Baltimore

> area, e-mail me.

kostas

What is the "water side cleaning"? Would skimming help?

Unknown

You can avoid it

But....

the system will smell like yours, run excessevely, heat unevenly, cost a fortune in fuel, and possibly make a LOT of noise, if it ever DOES boil properly.

It's required by the manufacturer, to avoid surging (all of the water leaving the boiler, and being replaced by all of the cold water in the returns), which will shorten the life of the boiler GREATLY.

Your call. You paid for a complete installation, didn't you?

Noel

George_10

Was the system cleaned after it was

installed. And if not, it should certainly be done. A new system deserves the same TLC that a new car gets before it is put into service.

Proper care will pay big dividends in performance and low repair cost.

Geno_15

1st off

you really need to determine if your getting CO, right now! Ask the fire marshall to come down and check it out. Do not play with this especially if you have headaches, sorethroats, please!!! and get detectors.

All steam installs must be cleaned and skimmed period! Some times people will also paint things, pipes, radiators etc which will give off fumes. Bear in mind that each install is different and the water will smell before it is cleaned and skimmed but please have the fire dept or professional check this out first, do not delay!!

I may be overreacting but with out being there and seeing it I have to say this, you don't mess around with CO.

ed wallace

steam boiler problems

Kostas please call me i mis placed your phone no. i have the load calculation for your boiler plus more info
Ed Wallace

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ed wallace

steam oders

I did a heat load calculation for the man who started this post his boiler is rated at 375 sq ft of steam actual heat load is 645 sqare ft of steam the hartford loop is 15 inches above water line, boiler was never skimmed, header is bull headed bewtween to risers, biulder says thats ok i will have my plumbers skim the boiler havent heared back from homeowner dont think i will ever here back and guess i out the cost of doing heat load hope hes happy come feburary when it does not heat

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