Help with Water Heater

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#1

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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Anyone ever seen this substance build up in the burner area?
Just trying to figure out what it is.

A.O. Smith says it may be something coming back down the flue, which made sense since the flue had no vent cap on the chimney. Could this be from rainwater?

Sorry, the first pic is upsidedown.

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#2

Originally Posted By: Guest
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Probably an oxide of whatever metal is being attacked by the acidic flue gases. If it’s a long flue the gas will condense and the acid will precipitate on the flue interior. It looks like an aluminum oxide, but the flue pipe is galvanized steel, so maybe zinc oxide.


Or possibly powdered sugar if it's in a bakery. Hell, I don't know

#3

Originally Posted By: psisler
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Hi Kevin,


Not trying to be funny, but it almost looks like baking soda that was put on it to stop a fire.

#4

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Like I said…the first pic is upside down, so unless baking soda is anti-gravity… icon_wink.gif

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Wisconsin Home Inspection, ABC Home Inspection LLC


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#5

Originally Posted By: ecrofutt
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Shooting strictly from the hip with no clue whether I’m right or not.


Hot moist air near the water heater, i.e. in the laundry room, (dryer not vented properly) forms condensation in the water heater combustion chamber. When the heater fires and burns away the water, trace minerals are left behind. More pronounced when the burner is burning during moist periods.

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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, Kentucky
www.b4uclose.com