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ky-newbie's avatar
ky-newbie
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014

Water Heater combustion?

Hey all,

(Thanks to all who replied to my "rusted anode" question. I'm soaking it with PB Blaster.) I have a new water heater question, not involving the anode rod.

I just fired the water heater up for the first time. It lit right up, and the flame is solid blue. My question is about some red "embers" on the bottom and top of the combustion chamber. There are probably three of them on top, and one on the bottom. I'm thinking it could be creosote? Beats me. :? Is it a problem, something for me to clean out, or just normal operation?

Thanks so much for your help!!!!!
  • navegator's avatar
    navegator
    Explorer
    Aug 29, 2014
    Bees and wasps and mudaubers are attracted to the smell of propane and will make nests in the burn tube, there are screens that help queep them away, then the mud daubers wiil plug you door locks, and you spend a good 20 minutes digging the tumbler so that the key fits, WD40 softens the mud and also helps brakes the tumbler from the lock so that it turns before you brake the key.

    navegator
  • ky-newbie's avatar
    ky-newbie
    Explorer
    Aug 29, 2014
    Thanks all! I took a coat hanger (while the burner was off), and scraped down the chamber. That took care of it. Must have been a little rust.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Aug 20, 2014
    Even a rust flake will glow red in the heat of a propane torch, And that is what you have there, One BIG propane torch.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2014
    Creosote only occurs from burning wood, so that's not likely. I have seen some pretty "sparkly" displays though, when someone fired up a water heater with mud dauber nests in the fire tube. As Old Biscuit said, cleaning the tube with a wire and rag is an effective way to clean them out.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 20, 2014
    Could be remains of nests/spider webs/soot etc. that were in combustion chamber and have been burned up. (Why creosote???)

    It always best to clean out combustion chamber after long periods of non use.

    Run a wire thru chamber 'U' tube and out the exhaust..then tie a rag to the end of wire and pull it back thru chamber.

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