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May be a stupid question

Steve Nichols
Steve Nichols Member Posts: 124
but I'm going to ask anyway. 

I have a new Burnham 5 Section Atmospheric Steam boiler fueled by natural gas.  When the burners are operating, is it normal for the flame color to be blue near the tubes but then higher up on the flame transition to orange?  This thing occasionally produces bursts of yellow flame as well.  The orifices have pink paint on their sides.  I know nothing about gas heating and will most likely call a burner tech to just make sure everything is set up properly.   I have clocked the gas meter and it's operating almost spot on the advertised input BTU rate.



Does anyone know of a good burner tech in the Boston, MA area or thereabouts?

Thanks,
striving for peaceful coexistence with an oversized boiler....



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/164/Steam-Piping/2730/Drop-Header-by-Steve-Nichols

Comments

  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    Not stupid

    Get a gas teech asap. It is not normal!
  • Steve Nichols
    Steve Nichols Member Posts: 124
    Seems like

    nothing about my boiler install was normal.  Thanks for the response Henry. I'll get someone to check that out.



    Steve
    striving for peaceful coexistence with an oversized boiler....



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/164/Steam-Piping/2730/Drop-Header-by-Steve-Nichols
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Make sure whoever works on it

    has a digital combustion analyzer and the know-how to use it. I've never seen pink orifices on a Burnham or anything else, he'll need to check them against what Burnham says is supposed to be there.



    And BTW, there is no such thing as a stupid question- unless it's a question you have but don't ask.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,343
    Combustion Analysis

    Whom ever you call, ask for a complete combustion test on the boiler.  A print out of documented findings/ suggested repairs should be given in writing.  Good lick and let us know how you make out.





    Mike T.
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    The unasked question:

    Unless it kills you and no one will ever know you had a question that you never asked and no one had the opportunity to get it answered.

    Because you never asked it

    If you ask a question and no one can answer it or won't, you better find out the answer. It could be important.
  • Steve Nichols
    Steve Nichols Member Posts: 124
    Thanks for the input

    Everyone,

    I continue to be amazed at the time everyone is willing to spend to help people with questions. 

    I'll do what you have recommended and get a tech in here that can document the findings.   I'm also going to check my CO detectors as well.

    As I probably should not call the Burnham officials directly (got in trouble for talking to the head steam rep a week ago about my short cycling "oversized" boiler), I need to have a contractor establish that line of communication for me.

    After looking at my setup and reading the documentation for my boiler, with the current burner tube setup, are the only adjustments that can be made related to the sizing of the orifices themselves and the regulator pressure?  This thing is atmospheric, so can draft up the liner play a part in this?

    I'm sensing that this thing was just installed and fired up and none of this was really checked.
    striving for peaceful coexistence with an oversized boiler....



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/164/Steam-Piping/2730/Drop-Header-by-Steve-Nichols
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