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Mobile ViewHEATING SYSTEMS AFUE DEFINITION, RATINGS AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS AIRBOUND HEAT SYSTEM REPAIRS ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS ANTI SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS BAROMETRIC DAMPERS BASEBOARD HEAT BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall BOILERS, HEATING Air Bleeder Valves Air Scoops Purgers Separators AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS BOILER COMPONENTS & PARTS BOILER CONTROLS & SWITCHES CAD CELL RELAY SWITCH CHECK VALVES, HEATING SYSTEM Chemical treatments, Boiler Circulator Pumps & Relays DIAGNOSE & FIX BOILER DRAFT REGULATORS, BAROMETRIC DAMPERS ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT Expansion Tanks FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS Gauges on Heating Equipment Limit Switches, Boilers Low Water Cutoff Valves, Boilers MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES Pressure Gauges, Boilers Pressure & Temperature Settings, Controls RELIEF VALVES - TP VALVES Reset Switch - Primary Control Reset Switch - electric motors SPILL SWITCHES STACK RELAYS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING Water Feeder Valves, Hydronic Boiler Zone Valves BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS BOILER LEAKS, HOW TO LOCATE BOILER NOISE SMOKE ODORS BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS Types of Boiler Defects Air-bound radiators, baseboards, boilers COMBUSTION AIR DEFECTS Diagnose Loss of Heat Diagnose Oil Heat Noises FUEL UNIT, HEATING OIL PUMPS GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS Heat Won't Turn Off - Stop Unwanted Heat Heating Malfunctions & Implications Heating Defects & Implications Leaks at Heating Boilers BOILER OPERATION DETAILS BOILER PRESSURE & TEMPERATURE SETTINGS BOOKSTORE - InspectAPedia BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2 CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCULATOR PUMPS & RELAYS COOL OFF HEAT, Thermostat Switch COMBUSTION AIR COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ COMPLETE COMBUSTION, Stoichiometric CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS CREOSOTE FIRE HAZARDS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE DIRECT VENTS / SIDE WALL VENTS DIRECTORY of OIL TANK EXPERTS DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? ELECTRIC HEAT, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FILTERS, AIR for HVAC SYSTEMS FILTERS, OIL on HEATING EQUIPMENT FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS FIREPLACES & HEARTHS FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLUE VENT CONNECTORS FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS FUEL UNIT, HEATING OIL PUMPS FURNACES, HEATING FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT CAD CELL RELAY SWITCH DIAGNOSE & FIX FURNACE DRAFT HOODS DRAFT REGULATORS ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT FAN AUTO ON CONTROLS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN LIMIT SWITCH TROUBLESHOOTING FAN MOTOR START CAPACITORS FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS HEAT EXCHANGER CLEANING HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS Reset Switch - Primary Control Reset Switch - electric motors SPILL SWITCHES STACK RELAYS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING ZONE DAMPER CONTROLS FURNACE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS FURNACE OPERATION DETAILS FURNACE OPERATING TEMPERATURES GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS Gas BTUH & Cubic Feet Gas Conversion LP Natural Gas Gas Flame & Noise Defects Gas Igniter Defects, Repairs Gas Leak Detection Gas Lighting Pipes & Fixtures Gas Meters Gas Piping Defects Gas Regulators for Appliances Gas Regulators for LP Tanks Gas Regulators, Two Stage Gas Shutoff Valves LP Gas Tanks LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards LP & Natural Gas Pressures METHANE GAS SOURCES Natural Gas Combustion Products Types of Fuel Gas Source GAUGES ON HEATING EQUIPMENT GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS HEAT LOSS in buildings HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT PUMPS, DiAGNOSIS, REPAIR HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES HEATING OIL TANKS HEATING SMALL LOADS HEATING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR HEATING SYSTEM NOISES HEATING SYSTEM SERVICE & MAINTENANCE HEATING SYSTEM TYPES HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS/FURNACES HOT WATER HEATERS HOT WATER IMPROVEMENT HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MIX VALVE SCALD PROTECTION, Best Practices MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH Natural Gas Combustion Products NO HEAT - BOILER / FURNACE DIAGNOSIS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS FROM HEATING SYSTEMS OIL BURNERS OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT OIL FILTER MISSING OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS OIL & GAS PIPING OIL LINE CLOGGING FIX OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING OIL PUMP FUEL UNIT OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION OIL TANKS PLASTIC HEATER VENT PULSE COMBUSTION HEATERS PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS RADIANT HEAT RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES RADIATORS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks Reset Switch - Heater Primary Control Reset Switch Broken - Quick Repair Reset Switch - Electric Motors Reset Switch - Stack Relays SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION SAFETY,HOME HEATING TIPS Safety Recalls, Chimneys, Vents, Heaters BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Goodman HTPV RECALL Heat Recovery Ventilator RECALL Lennox Furnace Manuals Lennox SAFETY WARNING PLASTIC Plexvent / Ultravent RECALL Weil McLain RECALL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM DESIGNS SOOT on OIL FIRED HEATING EQUIPMENT SPILL SWITCHES - Flue Gas Detection SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS STACK RELAY SWITCHES STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS CAD CELL RELAY SWITCH CHECK VALVES, HEATING SYSTEM Chemical treatments, Boiler Circulator Pumps & Relays COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATE RETURN PIPES, PUMPS, STEAM DIAGNOSE & FIX BOILER DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT EXPANSION TANKS FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS GAUGES, HEATING EQUIP. LIMIT SWITCH, BOILER LOW WATER CUTOFF VALVE MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES PRESSURE, TEMPERTURE SETTINGS, CONTROLS PRESSURE SWITCH, STEAM BOILER RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES SIGHT GLASS, STEAM BOILER SPILL SWITCHES STACK RELAY SWITCH STEAM PRESSURE GAUGE STEAM TRAPS STEAM VENTS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING WATER FEEDER Valves, Steam TANKLESS COILS THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues VIDEO GUIDES: Heating System Videos VIDEO GUIDES - InspectAPedia.com WATER HEATERS WATER HEATER SAFETY WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE? WATER HEATER NOISES WATER HEATER SCALE - De-Liming Procedure WATER HEATER SCALE PREVENTION WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD, COAL STOVES & FIREPLACES WOOD STOVE SAFETY ZONE VALVES More Information |
Gas burner operating defects & noises: here we provide descriptions and photographs of unsafe gas piping, indications of unsafe or improperly operating gas appliances, gas meters, and other gas installation defects are provided. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.This document provides free sample draft home inspection report language for reporting defects in oil and gas piping at residential properties.Readers should also see Water Heater Noises. Watch out: General safety warning: improper installation and even improper inspection and testing methods involving natural or "LP" gas can involve dangerous conditions and risk fire or explosion. If you smell gas you should leave the building immediately and should do so without doing anything that could create a spark such as operating a light switch or telephone. From a safe location, call your gas company's emergency line and/or your fire department. The text provided here is a working draft and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. NOTICE: while example report language is provided here, reproduction of this or any of our web pages or their contents at other websites or in printed documents for sale is prohibited. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Immediate LP or natural gas safety hazards: if there is evidence of an LP or natural gas leak at a building, gas odors, for example, you should:
Gas Flame & Noise Defects - How to Identify & Report Other Defects in LP or Natural Gas Appliances by Examining the Gas Burner Flame or Burner Noises*** Safety Recommendation: gas grill we suggest keeping the gas turned off at the rubber hose connection below the rear deck as leaks could be very dangerous. The use of rubber tubing rather than iron piping is unsafe and may not be permitted for this installation, and we suggest you review this question with your local fire inspector. Usually this is not a significant expense if correction is needed. This item should be addressed promptly.
Gas Appliance Flame Observations: [Example heating system inspection report topics] Caution At the ___ appliance, the gas burner flame was
What should a gas furnace or boiler gas burner flame look like?When properly adjusted the gas burner for a 100,000 BTU gas furnace or gas boiler, will have a flame about 1" or so high. The top of the gas flame will roll slightly 90 deg across and be blue in color. If the gas pressure is too high you will notice the tips of the flame much higher, pointed and orange in color. The orange gas flame color usually means there is too much gas for the air mix input. [Dust, debris, or other problems in the gas/air mix ratio, such as a mis-adjusted or blocked air intake at a gas burner will also change the flame color and pattern.] Thanks to Charles or Mike Trumbature for suggesting this comment. Details about gas flame color and diagnostic suggestions are at FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION. What does the presence of rust or debris mean when found on a gas burner?
Excessive rusting every year usually accompanies these problems of improper gas pressure, inadequate combustion air, or wet conditions. If you vacuum a lot of rust one year and it is back the next, then there is a problem that needs to be diagnosed and corrected. (Rust can damage a heat exchanger, cause a hole, and make the heater unsafe. Rust can also indicate general moisture conditions that could be causing other damage to or safety problems with the heater, including flue or chimney safety hazards. Looking for rust on a gas heater's burner is a simple, quick visual check anyone can do to see if there is cause for alarm. If rust is recurrent as we describe, further inspection is needed, and the gas pressure regulator should be checked as well. Some of the residential gas furnaces or gas fired boilers show the correct flame patterns in their Installation and Operation Manuals. Thanks to Charles or Mike Trumbature for suggesting this comment: I see mostly Rheem furnaces in homes 20 - 30 years old. Rheem(TM) must have cornered the market at that time here in the Houston Texas area. I've seen several homes in various areas with the same identical furnaces. I replaced a thermocouple on a relatively new unit once and noticed the "tame" flame pattern compared to my raging bonfire in my own furnace which was an older unit. On my older gas furnace I was constantly cleaning out rust every year. That's when I checked the gas pressure at the gas regulator/valve and found it too high. My friend's heat exchanger still looked new, mine was a bucket of rust. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about gas burner operating problems: flame defects, noises, safety hazards. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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