Fine tuning my water heater (Propane) [message #73957] |
Mon, 15 February 2010 20:37 |
Larry
Messages: 2875 Registered: January 2004 Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The regulator on my Propane water heater went out last year. I was able to replace it with a used regulator from another water heater. I have tried fine tuning it by moving the air control to get a flame with no yellow in the flame. It is now staining the paint on the side of my coach with black soot. What is the proper way to fine tune the flame so that it is providing max heat without the soot?
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
|
|
|
|
Re: Fine tuning my water heater (Propane) [message #74033 is a reply to message #73957] |
Tue, 16 February 2010 09:29 |
idrob
Messages: 645 Registered: January 2005 Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Larry wrote on Mon, 15 February 2010 18:37 | The regulator on my Propane water heater went out last year. I was able to replace it with a used regulator from another water heater. I have tried fine tuning it by moving the air control to get a flame with no yellow in the flame. It is now staining the paint on the side of my coach with black soot. What is the proper way to fine tune the flame so that it is providing max heat without the soot?
|
What is the "regulator" you replaced? The gas valve? Did you put the original orifice back on it, if you replaced it? Did you clean the orifice? Have you checked for spider webs in the burner tube? They can cause the inability to properly regulate the air flow.
Just some ideas.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
|
|
|
|
Re: Fine tuning my water heater (Propane) [message #74182 is a reply to message #74156] |
Wed, 17 February 2010 17:52 |
idrob
Messages: 645 Registered: January 2005 Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Larry wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 10:28 |
idrob wrote on Tue, 16 February 2010 09:29 |
Larry wrote on Mon, 15 February 2010 18:37 | The regulator on my Propane water heater went out last year. I was able to replace it with a used regulator from another water heater. I have tried fine tuning it by moving the air control to get a flame with no yellow in the flame. It is now staining the paint on the side of my coach with black soot. What is the proper way to fine tune the flame so that it is providing max heat without the soot?
|
What is the "regulator" you replaced? The gas valve? Did you put the original orifice back on it, if you replaced it? Did you clean the orifice? Have you checked for spider webs in the burner tube? They can cause the inability to properly regulate the air flow.
Just some ideas.
|
Ok, I guess I mean I replaced the gas valve, and cleaned and put the original orifice back on. Had to replace the burner tube as it almost fell apart from rust. Any other ideas??
|
Hmm, yellow and sooting is from lack of air. The shutters on them are adjustable. Have you run out of adjustment then? You can't get any more air? If so, my only additional thought is to be sure the new burner tube is aligned so that there is no "sag" or bend in the line from the orifice into the burner tube. If there is, I have found that they can sometimes do what you are experiencing. The gas must inject right into the middle of the burner tube so it properly induces the combustion air through the slots. When you put the new gas valve on, you could have cocked it slightly, so the alignment is not right between it and the burner tube.
At least check that, otherwise I am out of ideas.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
|
|
|
|
Re: Fine tuning my water heater (Propane) [message #74398 is a reply to message #73957] |
Fri, 19 February 2010 20:21 |
kingd
Messages: 592 Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Larry, how did you clean the orifice ? Hopefully only with solvent and air. I don't know why this is so , but it's said a lot that if you clean an orifice by passing a wire or what ever through the hole the orifice is ruined.
DAVE KING
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|
|
|