Heater Trouble....

[fishingguy]

I have a 20,000 btu lazer vented heater that doesn't burn clean. It burns real yellow. It also stinks pretty bad, like soot. I have tried to adjust the burner in and out, and air flow, but that doesn't help. Any one know how to get it to burn cleaner? Stink less? Thanks for any help.

[minneman]

Guy, I had the exact same heater, and the same problems. I called the 800# a few times on the cell, in the house while being fumed out, the guy on the phone was very nice and wanted the problem resolved, problem was all his ideas never worked, and at the time, my heater was on its second season (used once a the year b4 & thought it was the paint burning off)and out of any warranty, so no returning it. Im now using a different heater, ironicly one once made in New Ulm, ..pearson heater..

id say return it if you can

[jigglestick]

f.g.you may have already done so, but i have found several times on gas lanterns, heaters, grills etc. they have an opening for the airflow, somewhere in the vicinity of where the gas jet outlets. the problem i have seen, is cocoons, spider webs, or other obstructions with the air flow. the yellow flame, and sooty smell are dead giveaways. these things are not rocket science, though some of the burner systems can be a little more complicated. keeping it simple is a good rule of thumb. do not always try to over analize these sort of problems, as they basicaly need a certain amount of gas, (designated by the oriface size) and a certain amount of air, which you adjust by looking at the flame itself. it needs to burn clean and blue. no soot is optimum. these valves and circuits control the pilot circuits and the main burner on or off.

the oriface and air are on the burner end after the valving, so i'd look there.

be careful, and don't blow yourself up. shut the gas off until you are ready to ignite.

if it is new and you have a good return policy backing you, then you may just want to exchange, and try again.

good luck.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Hey fg, how ya doin??

The little knowledge of flames that I have (I'm a boilermaker) tells me that if it's yellow and sooty you don't have enough air.

Why you don't have enough air I don't know. I'd be looking for spider webs, cocoons, or mouse nests somewhere.

[Surface Tension]

Did you buy the right regulator.

[Ed Carlson]

An over filled LP tank may do that too. It will burp up raw LP and the air will not mix right.

It burns yellow and floods the chamber with raw fuel and stink like crazy. If you suspect and over filled tank get it away from ignition points and burp off a few pounds and see if it behaves better then.

The regulator may be bad or the wrong size, that is a good very good point!

[danny berg]

Minneman,

I too have the Pearson Heater, Wish the company was still making them, they are the best. Simply made, and easy to take apart to clean. When the time comes for a new house my heater is going with me...

[fishingguy]

I have pretty much tried everything you'all have mentioned to get it to work better. So I stopped by the bait shop yesterday and he told me they had some design trouble a couple years back. Something to do with the vent placement or vent plate, something like that.... And since sold out that portion of there co. The heater, even thou it is 2 years old but brand new, is no longer covered. I got it real reasonable so I'm not out that much, but it does pee me off a little. I'm not looking at a Handi Heater to replace it. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas, please let me know. Thanks for all the responses!!!