Video of my burner flame in Kenmore Power Miser 9

**vtxdude** · 01-03-2010, 10:10 AM

I have uploaded a video of my burner flame to You Tube.....does this flame look normal? If you notice on the right the flame is taller and reaching up...it is hard to see but the flame is actually being drawn up into the flue......is this normal? I would think that the burner flame should be uniform pretty much all the way around.....

What do you guys think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4aa_snIR30

**master plumber mark** · 01-03-2010, 10:48 AM

it looks a little odd...

one side is higher than the other...burning unevenlingly

are you still planing on changing that out or what??

**vtxdude** · 01-03-2010, 11:19 AM

Yes, I talked to plumber last week and he plans on doing it sometime this week..lot of freezing pipe calls I guess right around New Years Eve...my wife is returning from deployment from over in the sandbox this week so gotta make sure it isn't day she comes home!!

Sorry got off track...but yes still plan on having it done. I'm hoping this is a good plumber (comes highly recommended) and sounds like he knows his stuff...if so I plan on having him replacing copper back to washing machines at some point as it is really ugly and mickey moused...didn't help that original plumber just pulled cold copper pipe down to put on top of new water heater......didn't bother to cut a new piece accordingly...another bullet in my beef with Sears

Yes since day one the burner has been loud and it has always been higher on that one side...like I said the flame is actually being pulled up into the flue...any ideas why something like that might happen? I do recall the second plumber saying something to the effect that the vent pipe was super hot..like he was surprised by it? Wonder if some of the smell getting because flame is going up into flue

**Redwood** · 01-03-2010, 03:53 PM

kinda weird I wonder if there is something funny with the flue baffle.

**master plumber mark** · 01-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Redwood

kinda weird I wonder if there is something funny with the flue baffle.

[SIZE="4"]who knows , maybe their aint a flue baffle in this one

or a rodent got down in the baffle , and you have been slowly cooking a squirrell or a rat......

I would loook into that after you change it out...

**vtxdude** · 01-03-2010, 06:07 PM

No there is a baffle

And no critters in there

Does it matter in how the baffle is positioned in flue? I have it going from 9oclock to 3oclock is that ok?

When the plumber removed the first water heater he pulled the baffle out ..the bottom part of the baffle was covered in what I guess was soot..and this was on a week old water heater...he said bad water heater...well looks like second one is the same deal ..I wonder if the flames leaping up into the flue chamber contributed to this? Is the flame reaching up because it is looking for air?

I'm just sorta guessing here I guess...It is odd though huh? Gas pressure have anything to do with it?

**Doherty Plumbing** · 01-03-2010, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by vtxdude

No there is a baffle

And no critters in there

Does it matter in how the baffle is positioned in flue? I have it going from 9oclock to 3oclock is that ok?

When the plumber removed the first water heater he pulled the baffle out ..the bottom part of the baffle was covered in what I guess was soot..and this was on a week old water heater...he said bad water heater...well looks like second one is the same deal ..I wonder if the flames leaping up into the flue chamber contributed to this? Is the flame reaching up because it is looking for air?

I'm just sorta guessing here I guess...It is odd though huh? Gas pressure have anything to do with it?

That is the flame burning on a brand new HWT? If that's the case you have some issues. The burner shouldn't be burning unevenly like that.

Could be:

1. Issue with gas pressure.
2. Lack of primary air into the combustion chamber.
3. Gas pressure is off of what it should be.
4. Plugged up primary air orifaces.

I would check those things 1st.

**vtxdude** · 01-03-2010, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Doherty Plumbing

That is the flame burning on a brand new HWT? If that's the case you have some issues. The burner shouldn't be burning unevenly like that.

Could be:

1. Issue with gas pressure.
2. Lack of primary air into the combustion chamber.
3. Gas pressure is off of what it should be.
4. Plugged up primary air orifaces.

I would check those things 1st.

1)The plumber coming over to install the Bradford White asked me if I had Sears out to check gas pressure..told him I was done with Sears and wanted Bradford White regardless....if issue with gas pressure...who can correct that? Can he or is it something gas company need to take care of? Sounds like he knows what he is taking about

2) This is one of the main reasons I want the BW, I think they have a better primary air intake system as well as Rheem compared to AO Smith made heaters

3) Is this same as 1?

4) Things looks good, I cleaned under it a week or so ago and intake seemed clear of lint etc

I'm hoping that is flame gets where it needs to be that combustion odors take care of itself......

Can't be good with that flame darting up the flue like that

**Doherty Plumbing** · 01-03-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by vtxdude

1)The plumber coming over to install the Bradford White asked me if I had Sears out to check gas pressure..told him I was done with Sears and wanted Bradford White regardless....if issue with gas pressure...who can correct that? Can he or is it something gas company need to take care of? Sounds like he knows what he is taking about

2) This is one of the main reasons I want the BW, I think they have a better primary air intake system as well as Rheem compared to AO Smith made heaters

3) Is this same as 1?

4) Things looks good, I cleaned under it a week or so ago and intake seemed clear of lint etc

I'm hoping that is flame gets where it needs to be that combustion odors take care of itself......

Can't be good with that flame darting up the flue like that

Lol yes 3 was the same as #1 sorry :P I'm tired.

**vtxdude** · 01-03-2010, 09:04 PM

Lol np.....do any of my questions or theories make any sense?

**johnjh2o1** · 01-04-2010, 10:18 AM

I'm still betting either the gas valve or the burner is plugged up, because of using copper for the gas line.

John

**vtxdude** · 01-04-2010, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by johnjh2o1

I'm still betting either the gas valve or the burner is plugged up, because of using copper for the gas line.

John

Could be..it has probably been on there since 1983 when place was built. So even for the Water heater only being hooked up for a little more than a month it could be plugged? Has burned this way since day one.

When I have the Bradford White installed it will either be black iron or he said he could use the flexible stainless?

**Doherty Plumbing** · 01-04-2010, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by johnjh2o1

I'm still betting either the gas valve or the burner is plugged up, because of using copper for the gas line.

John

You guys must have some real nasty gas down there! We use copper piping for gas lines up here all the time and it's not even considered an issue... in fact it's quite often the preferred method!

**johnjh2o1** · 01-04-2010, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Doherty Plumbing

You guys must have some real nasty gas down there! We use copper piping for gas lines up here all the time and it's not even considered an issue... in fact it's quite often the preferred method!

Next time you replace a heater remove the copper gas line tap it on the floor and see if you get the same blue colored flakes out of it that we do. I also would like to know if it is just in are area.

John

**vtxdude** · 01-04-2010, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by johnjh2o1

Next time you replace a heater remove the copper gas line tap it on the floor and see if you get the same blue colored flakes out of it that we do. I also would like to know if it is just in are area.

John

I'll have the plumber do that when he swaps out my piping this week