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High Efficiency & Condensing Heating Boilers & Furnaces
- Guide to buying, installing, inspecting, troubleshooting & repairing high efficiency & condensing boilers & furnaces
- How to inspect a high efficiency heating boiler or furnace
- How to diagnose loss of heat, cold radiators, cold furnace air, noises, smells, all other heating problems
- Gas piping hazards, repairs
- Carbon monoxide hazards
- Condensing or High Efficiency Furnace and boiler hazards, safety recalls
- Plastic Condensing Boiler/Furnace Chimney and vent safety, product recalls, inspection; chimney soot & draft problem diagnosis, repair
- Direct vent chimneys & flues - through wall venting for heating appliances can eliminate the vertical chimney
- CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE - separate article
- DIRECT VENTS / SIDE WALL VENTS - separate article
- Questions & Answers about high efficiency heating boilers & condensing boilers: inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, & repair advice
- References
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
High efficiency & condensing heating boilers guide: Here we explain the installation, operation & maintenance as well as defect inspections for high efficiency oil and gas fired heating boilers & furnaces, condensing boilers, and similar energy-saving equipment.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
High Efficiency Heating Boiler or Furnace Inspection Methods, Diagnosis, Safety, Repairs
This website answers most questions about all types of heating systems and gives important inspection, safety, and repair advice.
Also see CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE. If you don't know what kind of heat your building uses, we explain how to figure out the answer at HEATING SYSTEM TYPES. If your heating system is not working properly, see NO HEAT - BOILER or
NO HEAT - FURNACE . The heating system articles provided at this website explain how to inspect and detect defects and hazards on heating systems, boilers, furnaces, and other equipment. Our page top sketch of a gas-fired high efficiency heating furnace is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
The three heating furnace illustrations, one at page top and two more just below, provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, offer a quick comparison of conventional, mid-efficiency, and high-efficiency gas-fired heating furnaces.
High Efficiency Heating System Reference Manuals, Inspection & Diagnosis Detailed Articles
Images courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Watch Out for These Unsafe Side-Wall Venting Errors for High Efficiency Gas Appliances
All direct-vented or sidewall vented heating appliances have safety guidelines about placement of the wall-vent. Our photo (above left) shows ice formation below a direct vented appliance - you can see what happens if the vent is not properly pitched or located: ice can block the vent completely - an unsafe condition. Our gas appliance vent condensate freeze up shown at above right may be a more serious safety concern in the making.
Pulse Combustion & High Efficiency Heating Furnaces or Boilers - Visual Inspection
OK so the homeowner was thrilled to see a high-efficiency heater in her new home. But just removing the covers for an inexpert visual inspection raised a question: what about that burn mark? Below, the two images, courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, describe how a pulse furnace works.
The sketch at below left applies to both conventional and high-efficiency gas fired heating appliances, and does not permit vents to extend outside where combustion gases can re-enter the building through a window, nor too close to the ground where venting could be blocked.
The Carson Dunlop Associates at right adds unsafe sidewall vent locations peculiar to high efficiency heating furnaces.
Images courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Direct Vent or Through Wall Vent Chimneys & Flues
Avoid a building fire with do-it-yourself thorugh-wall chimneys & flues
Our soot stained wall photo (photo at left ) shows what happens at a direct-vented oil-fired heating system when there are multiple errors and unsafe conditions including:
The heater is not working properly and needs immediate service as it is blowing thick dense sooty smoke
The through-wall metal flue vent and "chimney" appears to be a home-made adaption rather than a listed and approved direct-vent device.
The effects of this home made direct-vent "chimney" are quite visible: the siding on the building has been thickly coated with soot. If you (click to) enlarge the photo you 'll also see some interesting reverse thermal tracking effects marking the wall studs. This is an unsafe installation that needs immediate repair. |
Our stained wall photo (photo at left ) shows what happens at a direct-vented high-efficiency oil-fired heating boiler if the vent is not properly sloped through the wall.
Condensate accumulates in the vent pipe, dissolves flue gas deposits, and ultimately leaks both outside and back into the equipment.
Here is an inside-view of the same Energy Kinetics High Efficiency Heating Boiler System 2000 from inside. Click to enlarge the photo and look for leak stains on the induced draft fan.
To repair this mistake the installer will have to disassemble the entire vent system, and either remove a bit of masonry block from the bottom of the present wall opening or change the interior flue vent connector piping to slightly raise the inside end of the through wall vent - one or the other - to obtain proper condensate slope and condensate handling on this equipment. |
Venting Requirements & Effects of Long Heat Exchangers & Condensation in High Efficiency Heating Equipment
Images courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Text in process.
Special Safety Devices Found in High Efficiency Heating Equipment
Images courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Text in process.
Duct Sizing & High Efficiency Heating Furnaces or Boilers
Images courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Text in process
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Carrier Model BW9 Gas-Fired Condensing Boiler - Gas Fired Direct Vent Condensing Boiler - Example Installation & Operating Manual
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
 Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
- Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
- HEATING SYSTEMS (see master list of heating articles at Related Topics )
- Lennox Furnace Manuals
- [1] "Instructions for Installing FIELD Type AF Barometric Draft Controls," Form No. 31 DC 30666, Field Corporation, Mendota, IL 61342, web search 04/02/2011, original source: http://www.fieldcontrols.com/pdfs/04592700.pdf, Field Controls, Kingston, North Carolina 28501, Tel: 919-522-3031
- [2] Tjernlund Draft Controls, A Series (single action for oil, solid fuel, and fan-assisted gas burners) and B Series (double action for gas heating appliances), web search 04/02/1011, original source: http://www.tjernlund.com/Tjernlund_8500490.pdf , Tjernlund Products, Inc., 1601 Ninth Street, White Bear Lake MN 55110-6794, Tel: 651-426-2993 or 800-255-4208 website: www.tjernlund.com Email: fanmail@tjfans.com
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
- DUST, HVAC CONTAMINATION STUDY An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
- Fuel Oil & Oil Heating Magazine, 3621 Hill Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973-331-9545
- Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
- Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
- Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
- National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
- The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
- Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
- The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
- Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
- "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
- Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
- Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
- Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
- The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)
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