[MikeThomas]

Had a home energy audit conducted and the inspector wasn't able to get a CO reading on the exhaust because the level maxed out his meter. I've read that this is typically a sign of a heat exchanger failure but when observing the unit under operation, the flames do not dance around when when the blower turns on. However, it looks like there is an auxiliary flame occurring between the burner tubes. Could this attribute to the high CO levels in the exhaust? Here is a video of the burners running just before the blower and then while blower is running.

The unit is a Carrier Weathermaker SX Model: 58SX080-BC-1 and installed in 1985. Last year had the three-wire pilot replaced and the tech made a comment that this has several "upgrades" and isn't all original. Not sure what that means but, ok.

 

[MikeThomas]

Sorry, here is the video:

 

[user_12345a]

The flame is normal between the burners but it shouldn't be moving around like that. The one near the middle burner is suspect, betting at least one of the cells is busted.

Watch the flames; if the pattern between the burners changes when the blower comes on the heat exchanger is shot. Same goes for having co in exhaust change.

Over-firing can also cause high co.

A bad secondary heat exchanger can cause high co, those carriers had a plastic coating which peeled off and caused massive issues.

with 1985 furnace, 31 years old, time to budget for a new one and not throw good money after bad. it doesn't owe you anything.

 

[user_12345a]

don't know when the fan turns on in the video.

 

[MikeThomas]

The blower fan comes on right around 13 seconds in.

 

[user_12345a]

flames stay stable, that doesn't mean there's no problem.

get this unit check out if u wish to keep it -> co, gas pressure, heat exchanger.

stable flames don't mean the heat exchanger is good, 100%.

 

[supers05]

Those flames look fine. But as it was mentioned, you still need get it checked out. Was he using a handheld small meter that beeped? Those aren't meant to check combustion like that, they're more designed for ambient warnings. (Condensate causes the sensors to miss read)

A Combustion analyzer will usually have a hose with a probe at the end. They also often have a printer or some other method saving the results. It will tell you a bunch of info about how the furnace is firing. Around here, if I had a CO level so high that it can't be measured, we're not allowed to leave it on.

Cheers!

 

[beenthere]

Do you have the print out of the rest of the readings. What was the O2 before and after the blower came on. Did he check the manifold pressure.