Baro Damper Malfunction
- heatwithcoal
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Woke up this morning to coal smell in the house. I went to the stove in the basement and the baro damper was wide open. I looked at the CO detector it was at 42ppm.
Anybody else experience this?
I have a baro damper that just has a threaded rod with a weight on the inside but it seems like the RC type is very popular on this site. Should I be looking at getting one of these? Is there any major differences between these two types?
Thanks for any info.
Mark
Anybody else experience this?
I have a baro damper that just has a threaded rod with a weight on the inside but it seems like the RC type is very popular on this site. Should I be looking at getting one of these? Is there any major differences between these two types?
Thanks for any info.
Mark
- coaledsweat
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The one on my oil burner sticks once in a while. Make sure the unit works freeley without hanging up througout its movement range. Sometimes a gust of wind can force it further than it normally will go and the plate may stick on something in the mounting ring.
- heatwithcoal
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So how much monitoring is required? How do you know if your oil burner damper gets stuck?
Is there a difference between the screw/weight damper type that I have and the RC type?
I am suddenly feeling a little gun-shy, what if this happened in the midde of the night? I have 4 CO detectors in the house but I really don't want to end up outside at 3 in the morning.
Thanks,
Mark
Is there a difference between the screw/weight damper type that I have and the RC type?
I am suddenly feeling a little gun-shy, what if this happened in the midde of the night? I have 4 CO detectors in the house but I really don't want to end up outside at 3 in the morning.
Thanks,
Mark
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Hi Mark, The problem with the one you have is that the threads get go bad from the coal ash and you can no longer adjust. The bt/rc is a better baro.
Jerry
Jerry
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Hi Mark, better safe than sorry.
I would recommend replacing your barometric damper immediately with an RC or Field Controls unit. I clean and lubricate mine with a little WD or equiv every month.
Cheap insurance and definitely worth the peace of mind.
I would recommend replacing your barometric damper immediately with an RC or Field Controls unit. I clean and lubricate mine with a little WD or equiv every month.
Cheap insurance and definitely worth the peace of mind.
- CoalHeat
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The RC pivots on what looks like 2 small nails. I had a problem with mine once where it got stuck, the tab that extends through the cut-out in the frame got stuck. I bent it a little and checked the movement of the flap from fully open to fully closed to make sure it didn't hang up again.
- heatwithcoal
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That is my plan today. Thanks for the advise.
Is the thread issue the only difference? Do they setup and operate the same otherwise?
Mark
Is the thread issue the only difference? Do they setup and operate the same otherwise?
Mark
- heatwithcoal
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The baro that is presently installed is a field controls b-34jt
**Broken Link(s) Removed**The instructions say to basically adjust the counter balance closer to gate for low draft setting and further from the gate for a high draft setting. Does the RC offer a more high-tech calibration method than this?
I do have a manometer and my readings are .02-.03 both in the stove and in the pipe on the stove side of the baro, but the stove is not cranking by any means.
Mark
**Broken Link(s) Removed**The instructions say to basically adjust the counter balance closer to gate for low draft setting and further from the gate for a high draft setting. Does the RC offer a more high-tech calibration method than this?
I do have a manometer and my readings are .02-.03 both in the stove and in the pipe on the stove side of the baro, but the stove is not cranking by any means.
Mark
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The Type RC Field Controls is what I recommend. I posted a pic of my set up on the inside unit. It has a scale on the bracket where the weight attaches and you can use that as a guide. Using the manometer or draft gauge can then verify the setting at both high and low fire (preferable on a cold day!).
Sorry for the blurry pic, was in a hurry and didn't use the flash.
Sorry for the blurry pic, was in a hurry and didn't use the flash.
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- heatwithcoal
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Thanks a bunch for all your help. I just talked to my brother who installs boilers and he has a couple RC's on his truck
- CoalHeat
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The RC seems to work well. As I said, the only problem was the tab and cut-out to limit the flaps travel needing adjustment. The tab got stuck at the end of the cut-out.
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- coal berner
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Testing
- heatwithcoal
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Thanks for all the images and suggestions. Definitely more high tech than what I am using.
I will be putting one of those on in the next day or two.
Always learning.
Mark
I will be putting one of those on in the next day or two.
Always learning.
Mark