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barometric on conversion

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JeffM
JeffM Member Posts: 182
in Gas Heating
I've got a double-swing barometric damper in the flue piping of my EZ-Gas converted boiler. I'm wondering whether it should be partially open all of the time or adjusted to close off when the boiler isn't running? I note that when the boiler is off the damper is always fairly widely open, and this lets a lot of heat out of the basement. Should the damper be adjusted to minimize flow when things are off, or would I need a secondary motorized damper to do that? I recall that before the conversion, the oil flue damper was closed unless the burner was on or it was really windy outside (and it was warmer down there).

Photos attached all taken with the boiler off.

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  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,842
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    I bet the old barometric

    was adjusted so it wouldn't swing open much if at all, which increased the draft so that it would pull more heat out of the boiler and up the chimney. We see this a lot.



    Depending on what your chimney is like, this may be normal. Have you had a chimney liner put in?



    Also, by Code there should be a blocked-flue switch on that barometric, which will stop the burner if combustion products ever escape from the barometric.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • JeffM
    JeffM Member Posts: 182
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    lined

    I do have a stainless liner in that chimney. The inspector here didn't say anything about blocked flue switches, though it's NH (land of Live Free or Die) so it may not be code here. They make sense to me though (saw them in one of your photos in a thread on this page).
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,432
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    You say NH...

    Where? I'm in Dover and it is code.
  • JeffM
    JeffM Member Posts: 182
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    MHT

    City of Manchester. Maybe just not a very thorough inspector? I was around and saw him check the barometric and make sure it was a double swinging type, so I'd have thought he would ask for switches at that point if required here.
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