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Outside of combustion chamber red hot

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sr264
sr264 Member Posts: 5
in Oil Heating

New home owner here,


Recently got my oil burner replaced because it was tripping the breaker. I noticed while the boiler is working, eventually the outer wall of the combustion chamber that the oil burner is connected to is getting hot and turning red, curious what could be causing this and any advice?

IMG_4209.jpeg

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,625

    The refractory insulation is missing from that iron plate. DO NOT RUN THAT BOILER UNTIL IT IS FIXED!

    Firebox refractory kits are available for most boilers. What is the make and model of yours?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    sr264SuperTechbburd
  • sr264
    sr264 Member Posts: 5

    @Steamhead thank you for your prompt response, yeah I turned it off because I figured thats not a good sign. It is a Weil McLain, model P-368U-WT

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,625

    You can still get a kit for that one, but only contractors will (or should) be able to buy them. Where are you located? We might know someone………………

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

  • sr264
    sr264 Member Posts: 5

    I'm located out in Hempstead, New York (Nassau County)

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,391

    Pretty old boiler. When did they stop making the "P" boiler 1980ish??

    The front plate is overheating because the refractory is deteriorated.

    Get ready for the "you need a new boiler" speech

    Even if you don't need one.

    If your oil supplier does service that may be your best bet.

    The old combustion chamber is probably full of soot as it has probably never been cleaned out

    sr264
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 2,204
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840152#Comment_1840152

    Yep. Not a DIY for most.

    https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Combustion-Chamber-Weil-McLain-386-500-085/dp/B001M01K1A?th=1

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
    sr264
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,448
    edited February 2025

    In order to help in the removal of the front door, start putting penetrating oil on these 4 nuts that hold the front door in place. On a boiler that old, they are probably rusted on there pretty good. You may need heat from a torch to free them up.

    Screenshot 2025-02-04 at 3.07.58 PM.png Screenshot 2025-02-04 at 3.09.40 PM.png

    I agree with @EBEBRATT-Ed about the combustion chamber never being vacuum cleaned properly. and the NEW Boiler pitch. The replacement boiler for your home will have the same burner that you just purchased. It will also have about the same fuel consumption as the P68 boiler you now have. No big change in the way Weil McLain builds them today v. 1980 except for a hinge to open that combustion chamber area for cleaning. With a new chamber and a proper vacuum cleaning, you will have a boiler that is as efficient as a new one.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    sr264
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,625
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840304#Comment_1840304

    THIS!!

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    delcrossv
  • sr264
    sr264 Member Posts: 5

    Thank you everyone for your responses, I do gather that I need to call someone else to hopefully get this fixed, if not I definitely am prepped for the new boiler pitches.

  • sr264
    sr264 Member Posts: 5
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840209#Comment_1840209

    According to them, the short was coming from the motor and the entire burner needed to be changed; apologies if my terminology is off here, I'm also new to oil heating systems so thats why I went along with this person. Definitely going to reach out to someone else to resolve this

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,391

    They probably replaced the old burner because the end of the blast tube burned off.

    So, just stick another burner in there so the same thing will happen again.

    Don't take off the front plate and vac the boiler and fix the refractory

    Sell new. No one wants to fix anything anymore and most of them don't know how.

    delcrossvsr264EdTheHeaterManLRCCBJ
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,625
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840428#Comment_1840428

    Can't fix lazy and stupid.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    delcrossvEBEBRATT-EdLRCCBJ

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