Kitchen Gas Appliances - Space heater works, but some unburnt gas smell
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jbclem
12-19-01, 12:32 AM
I have my Dayton open front space heater working with a new gas control valve. It's a 35,000 btu space heater, the kind that sits away from the wall. The vent comes out the back and then goes straight up through the ceiling. The top of the vent pipe is above the roof ridge line.
The heater works but seems to heat the room up slowly(20x15 bedroom). The flames seems to be a bit on the small size, but what do I know about that. Over time they seem to increase a bit in size, but not that much.
The reason I'm mentioning all this is that there is a sweet smell in the room that I identify as unburnt gas, and it comes from the space heater when it is on. There are no leaks, I've checked with the leak testing fluid. I've also taken a razor type blade and cleaned out the burner slots.
Because I had a similiar smell from my house furnace last winter, I would like to find out how to trouble shoot this type of problem, and what are all the possible causes of this kind of problem.
The new gas control valve is for natural gas, but the space heater was originally for LP according the a tag on its side. Is it possible that there is an incorrect orfice somewhere in the space heater system itself?
I'm attaching a photo of the flames so someone might be able to judge if they seem to be on the small side. The have intermittent yellow/orange in them but are mostly blue.
Thanks,
John
The heater works but seems to heat the room up slowly(20x15 bedroom). The flames seems to be a bit on the small size, but what do I know about that. Over time they seem to increase a bit in size, but not that much.
The reason I'm mentioning all this is that there is a sweet smell in the room that I identify as unburnt gas, and it comes from the space heater when it is on. There are no leaks, I've checked with the leak testing fluid. I've also taken a razor type blade and cleaned out the burner slots.
Because I had a similiar smell from my house furnace last winter, I would like to find out how to trouble shoot this type of problem, and what are all the possible causes of this kind of problem.
The new gas control valve is for natural gas, but the space heater was originally for LP according the a tag on its side. Is it possible that there is an incorrect orfice somewhere in the space heater system itself?
I'm attaching a photo of the flames so someone might be able to judge if they seem to be on the small side. The have intermittent yellow/orange in them but are mostly blue.
Thanks,
John
Sharp Advice
12-19-01, 02:55 AM
Hello: John
What your most likely smelling is unburned gas. It's possibly because something is too close to the burner flame. Anything touching a burner flame that breaks the inner <center> cone of the flame will cause the gas not to burn fully and emit an odor.
Check across the top of the burners for anything that might impinge on the burner flames. Impingement on the outter area of the flames is fine. The inner cone is the area very close to the burner and centered in the middle of the flame.
Another item to check is the secondary intake air shutter opening. There should be NO yellow flames on any gas appliance except on decorate fireplace appliances. Since the appliance in question here is for room/home heating, that rule applies.
Regarding the sizing of the flames, if the gas control valve is the correct one for that appliance, it's set to operate at the correct supply and delivery pressures, there shouldn't be any reason to have to adjust it.
The existing orifice may need to be checked for btu size.
The sizing is below and the drill sizing is averaged not to exceed that maximum btu rating of the heater:
A 35,000 btu orifice size should have a drill size of 34 or 35 if the appliance regulator is set at 3.5 inches of water column.
If the regulator is set a 4.5 inches of water column, then the existing orifice drill size should be 37 or 38.
Look closely on the replacement regulator on the appliance. The water column setting is stamped on the regulator.
Hope all this helps you.
Your writting is excellent...thanks...helps plenty on this end too.
What your most likely smelling is unburned gas. It's possibly because something is too close to the burner flame. Anything touching a burner flame that breaks the inner <center> cone of the flame will cause the gas not to burn fully and emit an odor.
Check across the top of the burners for anything that might impinge on the burner flames. Impingement on the outter area of the flames is fine. The inner cone is the area very close to the burner and centered in the middle of the flame.
Another item to check is the secondary intake air shutter opening. There should be NO yellow flames on any gas appliance except on decorate fireplace appliances. Since the appliance in question here is for room/home heating, that rule applies.
Regarding the sizing of the flames, if the gas control valve is the correct one for that appliance, it's set to operate at the correct supply and delivery pressures, there shouldn't be any reason to have to adjust it.
The existing orifice may need to be checked for btu size.
The sizing is below and the drill sizing is averaged not to exceed that maximum btu rating of the heater:
A 35,000 btu orifice size should have a drill size of 34 or 35 if the appliance regulator is set at 3.5 inches of water column.
If the regulator is set a 4.5 inches of water column, then the existing orifice drill size should be 37 or 38.
Look closely on the replacement regulator on the appliance. The water column setting is stamped on the regulator.
Hope all this helps you.
Your writting is excellent...thanks...helps plenty on this end too.