combustion analyzer testing

[mrlighturfire]

So I use a combustion analyzer to determine cracks in heat exchanger and other tests. The people I work with and talked to other service techs and no one in my area uses them. I am thinking your crazy for not using one. Oh well one up for me I guess.

[gravity]

Good job. Now start using it to properly tune any appliance you touch.

A good class to take is @ NCI by Jim Davis.

www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com

[Joehvac25]

I wish mine would get sent back already, I thought you died gravity, been gone awhile lol!

[billg]

Does anyone regularly check their combustion analyzers with calibration gas? I just pegged my analyzer when I looked away to answer customer on blower motor change. Found bad regulator in gas valve causing over firing. Just ordered calibration gas and will now check it often.

[perfectionist]

I was doing 2 c&c on 2 furnaces a couple of weeks ago, both goodman furnaces. I found cracked hx on both furnaces (visual) so I fired up my 327 to see how they were operating. Furnace #1 had rising CO so I shut it down and disabled it. Furnace #2 had stable CO under 60ppm so I left it in operation and advised the customer that both HX needed to be replaced. I would not have know the difference without my CA as they both looked the same as far as flame apperance.

[zibby]

Didn't red tag it?

[Tony3696]

I was doing 2 c&c on 2 furnaces a couple of weeks ago, both goodman furnaces. I found cracked hx on both furnaces (visual) so I fired up my 327 to see how they were operating. Furnace #1 had rising CO so I shut it down and disabled it. Furnace #2 had stable CO under 60ppm so I left it in operation and advised the customer that both HX needed to be replaced. I would not have know the difference without my CA as they both looked the same as far as flame apperance.

Bad idea leaving a cracked HX in operation.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I was doing 2 c&c on 2 furnaces a couple of weeks ago, both goodman furnaces. I found cracked hx on both furnaces (visual) so I fired up my 327 to see how they were operating. Furnace #1 had rising CO so I shut it down and disabled it. Furnace #2 had stable CO under 60ppm so I left it in operation and advised the customer that both HX needed to be replaced. I would not have know the difference without my CA as they both looked the same as far as flame apperance.

Didn't red tag it?

Bad idea leaving a cracked HX in operation.

Tricky call...

Best is to tag ALL questionable appliances.

Sometimes circumstances warrant different actions.

Each of us has to make the decision.

[beenthere]

I was doing 2 c&c on 2 furnaces a couple of weeks ago, both goodman furnaces. I found cracked hx on both furnaces (visual) so I fired up my 327 to see how they were operating. Furnace #1 had rising CO so I shut it down and disabled it. Furnace #2 had stable CO under 60ppm so I left it in operation and advised the customer that both HX needed to be replaced. I would not have know the difference without my CA as they both looked the same as far as flame apperance.

Next time, tag it. Note that you left it turned off on your invoice. But leave it in a condition that the customer can restart the furnace if they want.

[perfectionist]

This is a special situation where my mother ownes an appartment building so if I tell them the furnace needs repair they will authorize the repair. I have two new HX on the truck but have not been able to do the work yet due to a back injury. Also if the second furnace was unstable or if it had high CO i would have disabled it also. These are goodman 80% not that it matters much a cracked hx is a cracked hx.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I would be VERY careful with bending safety requirements on bad HXE's... one could cause something they do not want on their conscious for the rest of their lives... like a CO poisoning issue.

Having said that: A combustion analyzer will tell a lot more than a visual inspection. This one is a tuff call.

Personally, I think I would have provided a few elec space heaters and tagged it.