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Flames too big?

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  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Posts: 18,107

    measuring the firing rate either by looking at the orifice sizes and measuring the manifold pressure or by clocking the meter is one clue. looking at system temps and stack temps is another piece of the puzzle.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Posts: 18,903

    I wouldn't make any changes without a digital combustion analyzer. Without one, and the know-how to use it, you might be making Carbon Monoxide. Why guess?

    Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Semi-retired

    Baltimore, MD, USA

    mattmia2Mad Dog_2EdTheHeaterMan
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Posts: 4,512

    Why would you think that ?

    Anyway you could build / buy Manometer and test / verify the manifold pressure. However you should not change anything without the proper equipment and training to verify proper combustion.

    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Mad Dog_2EdTheHeaterMan
  • simon_skove
    simon_skove Posts: 70

    Thank you. I am taking the comments as confirmation that nothing looks crazy or something I should be concerned with. I was not sure about the occaisional red/pink flare ups.

    I cleaned all the tubes with a nylon tube brush.

    Thank you.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Posts: 21,036

    You should at least take a gas pressure reading on the manifold with a gauge that reads in " of water collum or a manometer. Normally the correct gas pressure is listed on the equipment and is usually 3.5" of water.

    But that is not a substitute for a combustion test.

    The person who can see Carbon Monoxide has not been born yet.

  • simon_skove
    simon_skove Posts: 70

    Ok….until the guy with the digital combustion analyzer comes over to do the test, would a carbon monoxide detector (like a smoke detector) help at all?

    Are there clues from the formation or color of the flames?

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Posts: 18,903

    A CO detector is a great idea. It is required in a lot of places.

    It's possible to have a nice blue flame and still make a lot of CO. That's why we test.

    Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Semi-retired

    Baltimore, MD, USA

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