VTXdude
New Member
Hi..I'm sure a lot of you have seen my postings on the trouble I am having with the Kenmore Power Miser 9 I had installed about a month ago.
Based on some of the things I have read maybe some of the issues I'm having may have not happened with a Bradford White....
Is the secondary air intake different on the Bradford White so it allows more airflow? It looks like there are vents on the side near the bottom that allow for air to get into the burn chamber that way? On the Kenmore it looks like it has a grate at the very bottom of the water heater underneath not all that big to allow secondary air. And then the Kenmore has that double mesh screen to supposedly keep dust and lint etc from gathering and clogging this grate.
I'm thinking my 20 year old water heater worked fine because it had more of an "open" chamber and could get as much air as it needed? With these new design water heaters it seems they have a more daunting task of getting sufficient air flow?
When I look through the sight window sometimes the flame is almost all yellow...other times it is mostly blue with orange in it. I can see no rhyme or reason why it isn't consistent but that what it is. The bottom of the water tank where it is heating (flames look like they can lick at it) is black but not sure if soot because I can see some writing what looks like white marker on there also.
I guess a few real main questions
1) Does secondary air flow effect how well that the water heater vents/drafts?
2) Does secondary airflow determine the color of the flame?
3) Is the Kenmore design inferior to the Bradford White design as far as secondary airflow?
4) Will a BW allow more secondary air than the Kenmore?
I'm trying everything possible to avoid going to electric.....If the Bradford White would improve what I am having now (yellow lazy flame, combustion smells etc) I would rip the Kenmore out in a heartbeat and have the BW installed
The only thing that has changed in my cellar is the 20 year old water heater that worked great until the TP valve went on it. Ever since I have had the Kenmore installed it has been nothing but trouble as far as what I have mentioned above...
Can anyone verify that the BW secondary air intake is superior to the Kenmore?
Thanks for listening guys...I know I ask a lot of questions but really do appreciate it
Based on some of the things I have read maybe some of the issues I'm having may have not happened with a Bradford White....
Is the secondary air intake different on the Bradford White so it allows more airflow? It looks like there are vents on the side near the bottom that allow for air to get into the burn chamber that way? On the Kenmore it looks like it has a grate at the very bottom of the water heater underneath not all that big to allow secondary air. And then the Kenmore has that double mesh screen to supposedly keep dust and lint etc from gathering and clogging this grate.
I'm thinking my 20 year old water heater worked fine because it had more of an "open" chamber and could get as much air as it needed? With these new design water heaters it seems they have a more daunting task of getting sufficient air flow?
When I look through the sight window sometimes the flame is almost all yellow...other times it is mostly blue with orange in it. I can see no rhyme or reason why it isn't consistent but that what it is. The bottom of the water tank where it is heating (flames look like they can lick at it) is black but not sure if soot because I can see some writing what looks like white marker on there also.
I guess a few real main questions
1) Does secondary air flow effect how well that the water heater vents/drafts?
2) Does secondary airflow determine the color of the flame?
3) Is the Kenmore design inferior to the Bradford White design as far as secondary airflow?
4) Will a BW allow more secondary air than the Kenmore?
I'm trying everything possible to avoid going to electric.....If the Bradford White would improve what I am having now (yellow lazy flame, combustion smells etc) I would rip the Kenmore out in a heartbeat and have the BW installed
The only thing that has changed in my cellar is the 20 year old water heater that worked great until the TP valve went on it. Ever since I have had the Kenmore installed it has been nothing but trouble as far as what I have mentioned above...
Can anyone verify that the BW secondary air intake is superior to the Kenmore?
Thanks for listening guys...I know I ask a lot of questions but really do appreciate it
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