draft readings

Mark Hunt

a -.08 draft at the breech?!?!?

That would be sucking the flame right off the head. What did he do about the #2 smoke?

What did he use to test the combustion?

Did he tell you HOW a new furnace would solve those issues???

Mark H

Mark H

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Live/Learn

draft readings

Hi Wallies, My daughter had a heating tech visit her home today due to a "no heat" condition. She has a forced hot air system which I'm not familiar with otherwise I would have taken care of it for her as I am pretty much "up" on boilers. I am a homeowner who does all of my own repairs including installing my own Burnham v-83 a few years back. Back to the furnace problem. The tech found that the thimble to the chimney was packed with soot after they cleaned and adjusted last year. Anyway he claimed to have cleaned the heat exchanger before I got there to check it out as my daughter was at work and no one was at home. He didn't want to clean out the thimble as he claimed that was up to a chimney sweep. I ended up cleaning it and also mirrowed the chimney to check for a plugged condition . It was as clear as a bell. He got an over fire draft of .02 but a .08 at the breech. He also got a stack temp of over 600 net. Smoke was at about a 2. He insists on replacing the furnace . I feel if the heat exchanger is good which he agrees it is there is no reson to replace. I feel that it's still dirty due to the wide range in draft readings (overfire & over breech). What do your guys think? Thanks in advance , Live / Learn

Live/Learn

irregular draft readings

Dear Mark, He only measured the draft,smoke and temp. He used a draft gauge a smoke puller and a stack thermometer. He didn't bother testing for co . He felt that he could live with the "2" on the smoke as that's the best he could obtain. He wanted to replace as he claims it's a hard funance to work on and besides he figures that with all his company charges to maintain the unit it would be cheaper to replace. The unit is only 10 years old. What do you contribute the big differace in draft readings. .02 at over fire and .08 at breech ? Seems chimney has plenty of draw but not showing up on the " over fire " location. I witness both readings. Live / Learn

Maine Ken

Your daughter is overdue for someone who knows what they are doing!!!!

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Live/Learn

draft problems

Dear Maine Ken, I agree with that statement. How hard is it to clean a hot air furnace? I have been cleaning my boilers for years and have it down "pat" but I have never tackled a furnace. I'm sure that's all that's wrong with this funace. Most techs don't like to get their hands dirty anymore and clean them correctly. That's why I have been cleaning my own all these years . Live / Learn

Maine Ken

I will repeat a classic line "it depends"!!! All furnaces are different, some have cleanout ports, some have plates some have nothing more than the breeching. What make and model does your daughter have? Do I understand correct that you have a positive over fire????

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Live/Learn

draft problems

Dear Ken, No He had a -.02 over fire & a -.08 over breech. Not sure brand name of funace but will check on it tomorrow as I will be over there changing out sink washers for her. Her husband owns a deli and works dam near 24/7 so I,m elected. I don't mind though! Live / Learn

Live/Learn

draft problems

Hi Ken, How's things in Maine? What part are you from? I used to go there alot a few years back. The brand and model # of the furnace is : TEMPSTAR / MODEL# NU0105FH01. I see a couple of round plates that can be removed with other plates behind them held on by a center bolt (clean-outs)?? Also I guess the smoke pipe plenium being removed would help in the cleaning. What do you think did I miss anything? Live / Learn

Ragu_5

Well...

As the Firedragon always says: "It all begins with draft." A -.08" indicates a very severe draft; so much so that it would/could/should be causing flame detachment from the burner head. VERY BAD READING!!!

Better get someone in there who knows combustion testing, proper cleaning/tuning techniques and barometrics.

As far as cleaning furnaces as opposed to boilers, some you can get to the whole heat exchanger, and some only allow you to get to a portion of the heat exchanger. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy, my friend. Good luck.


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Anna Conda

Go here:

http://www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com/find.cfm

Pop your zipcode in and choose from the drop-down menu offerings (can't hurt to search both...) Jim Davis is a regular Wallie and offers this service, a sort of forced-air version of Dan Holohan's "Find a Pro" service.

David Sutton_6

Hi Live/learn

I would have a new company look at it,
# 2 smoke is not right, 0 smoke is, Unit should be brushed and vac'd out,flue cleaned and burner properly set up.you should have 0 smoke , .02 over fire and.04 at the breach, the stack temp could be high due to the build up of soot and the high draft.Soot acts as a insulator, high draft pulls the heat right out. slow down the air movement and see the stack temp go down.

CO and CO2 must be checked also, if he got #2 smoke your probly running 14% co2 or higher, should be around 11-12.5

Good luck....David

Live/Learn

draft

Thanks Dave for the info. I know you're right as I suspect that tech?? didn't do too good of a cleaning job and it's probably full of soot. I'm going to have someone else check it out and re calibrate the settings after a better cleaning. I feel the draft is irregular due to a dirty heat exchanger as you do. Live/Learn

Leo

I agree

I agree you may need a second opinion it could be the tech's boss or another company. The system may need some mor TLC or it may be a cheap system that just isn't efficient, I have worked on some no matter what you do it makes no difference.

I would asked that it be brushed and vacumned out, make sure the burner fan is clean. Make sure it has the specified nozzle and proper oil pressure then test with instruments. These are the things I would do if it were me working on it. You need a clean unit and set to the proper specs to have a base line to test from. If the unit just isn't engineered well I always worry more about excess over fire draft then the breach draft.

Good Luck,
Leo

roger provencher

high draft diff.

whether it is a boiler or furnace the difference between the over fire and the breaching should never be more than manufacturers specs. it will vary a bit on different equipment, the furnace could be overfired, a bad heat exchanger can cause these readings when the blower is running, but most of the time if fired properly you will find a dirty heat exchanger.how old is the furnace and what is on it for a burner, large amount of excess air can cause this, some old burners and some really junky ones never ran right from the get go. and there are other things that can cause this. you need a qualified tech to properly troubleshoot

Bob Forand

Go to

Live/Learn, you can go to Tempstardlr.com and get a copy of the manual for that furnace. It will have all of the setup parameters that the tech will need. It will tell you the draft, over fire reading, stack temps, proper cleaning instructions etc. Even if you call in another tech it is very important to have a co test done. I would demand it, there is no reason not to do the test. The settings he has left you with are the reason it is sooting up. "2" smoke is bad. And FYI, the statement about techs not wanting to clean a furnace or get there hands dirty is a broad statement. One bad egg doesnt make the dozen bad..Good luck sir.

Live/Learn

Sorry Bob

I didn't mean to paint with such a large brush and really only had techs like I had with a attitude in mind when I made that statement. Sorry! Thanks for the web site I'll check it out. You're correct in stating the furnace needs some TLC. It's only 9-10 yrs. old with a beckett burner. It has always had a bad burn , sooting problem due to never being set up right. I'll advise my daughter to get someone in there who knows what he's doing . Thanks again all Live/Learn

marc friedman

thats a crappy oil furnace ya got ...

why not call your OIL Company to service ..???

EBEBRATT-Ed

-.02 draft over the fire is fine. -.08 at the breeching with a -.02 over the fire probably means the furnace is plugged which is likley if it is running a #2 smoke.

Because furnace are hard to clean you have to keep them clean by running a 0 smoke. Years ago a #2 smoke may have been accectable but not with todays modern burners.

If the tech thinks that a #2 smoke is ok you need a new one(tech that is)


Ed

Live/Learn

clogged furnace

I agree with your statement completely Ebebratt. I also feel that the difference in the two readings is due to blockage. I'm going to have someone else check it out tomorrow. I'll keep you posted! Live / Learn