Originally Posted By: Douglas Williamson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
What method of backdraft detection do you use (assuming the draft is not obvious)?
There are various items available on the market that I would rate between "money-hole" and "useless", and others that make me want to cry from the stupidity of it.
I'm curious what range of items the pro's here employ.
Originally Posted By: Gary Reecher This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
kshepard wrote:
A lighter will work too.
Heat rises a better test would be with a neutral bouyancy smoke puffer. The type of puffer where the smoke neither rises or falls but hangs in the air and is moved by room air patterns. If this smoke is dispensed near a draft hood and there is a draft it will pull into the draft hood. Since there is more smoke generated than with an extinguished match draft patterns are highly visible.
<SMALL> (The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)
Originally Posted By: kshepard This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Backdraft testing to determine whether the products of combustion are entering the living space either as reverse flow (backdraft) from the vent or directly from the burn chamber.
Re: lighter vs smoke. I watch to see which way the flame leans, toward or away from the vent, but the puffers sound good. What do they cost and how long do they last?
Originally Posted By: dvalley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Quote:
Could you guys go into more detail of what this is all about?
Is this to detect that the draft is working correctly?
Where do you put the mirror and such?
You get a mirror and you face the glass towards the open gap under the draft hood. If your mirror sweats, the water heater is not venting properly. It's backdrafting. Call it out for Plumber evaluation.
Originally Posted By: Douglas Williamson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for all of the replies!
I've seen the "powder puff" bottles for sale and figured that was the safest way to go but am concerned about the mess.
The mirror method seems to be most frequently used method, based on the information I've found from various online sources.
The lighter method worries me. I remember (vaguely, the details are sketchy) when I was young my father used a lighter to test a water heater for backdraft - no backdraft detected, but some unknown chemical which was previously spilled atop the water heater definitely took exception to the new source of flame! Quite a hair raising experience - blew us away you might say!
Then of course in high school there was the "no other light source available" lighter we used to change the fuel filter on my friends car late one summer night - I tell you, one littler lighter can produce A LOT of flame.. and the desired light of course. Again, the results blew us away! Man teenagers are dumb when a liberal amount of beer is applied.
Anyway - a few past experiences have me concerned about using a lighter! Thanks again for the replies, sounds like a mirror is the way to go.
Originally Posted By: dvalley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Andy,
If the w/h fuel supply is not on, I turn up the temperature control at the base of the w/h. I know, I know...I'm not suppose to mess with gauges. But to me, it's the same as turning up the thermostat for the home heating appliance.
I then place the mirror right against the draft hood, glass is facing the opening.
Originally Posted By: kshepard This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
David, if the fuel supply is turned off, and there’s just a water heater full of cold water sitting there, how does turning up the temperature control help you to check vent backdraft with no burners lit?
Hey, my ex-wife was right!