Steam out of chimney? ? ?
 

I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by oil-burning
furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam coming
out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is normal. I
don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older buldings in our
area.

"Ray" wrote in message
news:SGAXd.32041$QQ3.19993@trnddc02...
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by oil-burning
furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is normal.
I don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older buldings in our
area.


Yes, it is natural. Most oil burners are about 80% efficient and the rest
of the heat is going up the stack. Fuel also contains some moisture, as
does the air for combustion. This goes up as vapor and will condense and be
visible as it eaves the stack in the cold air. You don't see it all the
time as conditions vary.

If you are seeing black smoke, the burner is in need of cleaning and/or
adjusting. That is very wasteful as it is fuel that is not completely
burned and thus wasted.

Ray wrote:
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by
oil-burning furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is
normal. I don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older
buldings in our area.

Is it steam or is it a cloud - smoke. Steam is 212º or hotter. :-)

I suspect it is just condensing water vapor. You burn hydrocarbons and
you get H²O and CO and CO² plus heat. When this mix hits the cold air it
condenses the H²O.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Is the apartment building heated by a furnace or a boiler? There is a
difference.

If it's actually heated by a boiler, you may have a cracked section above
the water line.

"Ray" wrote in message
news:SGAXd.32041$QQ3.19993@trnddc02...
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by
oil-burning
furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming
out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is normal.
I
don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older buldings in our
area.

If it is a boiler, not forced air check if makeup water is being added.
Does it have an auto water feed. You could turn it off , but monitor it
carefully to see if the water level drops during its running, dont let
it go low. If it is a cracked boiler replacement may be necessary

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Ray wrote:
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by
oil-burning furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is
normal. I don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older
buldings in our area.

Is it steam or is it a cloud - smoke. Steam is 212º or hotter. :-)

It can't be steam, since steam is invisible, like any other gas.

I suspect it is just condensing water vapor. You burn hydrocarbons and
you get H²O and CO and CO² plus heat. When this mix hits the cold air it
condenses the H²O.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

The idea of raising your thermostat is a good quick step with *no*
changes to habits (well except teaching folks to test the water temp
before being immersed in it a good practice anyway) personally I
like a *really* hot shower.... and wouldn't tolerate a "scaldproof"
adapter.

I think a small usage change will do you better with less
investment. Can you convince the family to stagger the washups? some
in the morning, some at night, some in the afternoon?

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

toller wrote:

....
... steam is invisible, like any other gas.
.....

Not necessarily--most common are, but isn't necessarily so...

Toller, steam is clearly visable at 10f or less in normal 80% efficient
NG furnaces as a white vapor exiting chimneys. I see it all the time
when it is cold out. Fuels contain water.

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
toller wrote:

...
... steam is invisible, like any other gas.
....

Not necessarily--most common are, but isn't necessarily so...

Oh, what gas isn't invisible? (Of course chlorine is yellow, but it isn't
opaque like the water vapor the OP is asking about.)

toller wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
toller wrote:

...
... steam is invisible, like any other gas.
....

Not necessarily--most common are, but isn't necessarily so...

Oh, what gas isn't invisible? (Of course chlorine is yellow, but it isn't
opaque like the water vapor the OP is asking about.)

UF6, I, ...

toller wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Ray wrote:
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by
oil-burning furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is
normal. I don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older
buldings in our area.

Is it steam or is it a cloud - smoke. Steam is 212º or hotter.
:-)
It can't be steam, since steam is invisible, like any other gas.

Good catch.


I suspect it is just condensing water vapor. You burn
hydrocarbons and you get H²O and CO and CO² plus heat. When this
mix hits the cold air it condenses the H²O.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Joseph Meehan wrote:
....
It can't be steam, since steam is invisible, like any other gas.

Good catch.

It's likely the condensed water vapor which is what happens when the
warm, moist air hits the cool exterior air...same effect, smaller volume
as the cooling tower.

"m Ransley" wrote in message
...
Toller, steam is clearly visable at 10f or less in normal 80% efficient
NG furnaces as a white vapor exiting chimneys. I see it all the time
when it is cold out. Fuels contain water.

But you are seeing water vapor not steam. Once the exhaust cools below 212 F
there is a phase change.

Right, and OP is seeing water vapor.

m Ransley wrote:

Toller, steam is clearly visable at 10f...

Wrong.

"George" wrote:

"m Ransley" wrote in message

Toller, steam is clearly visable at 10f...

But you are seeing water vapor not steam...

Wrong again.

m Ransley wrote:

Right, and OP is seeing water vapor.

Wrong again. The OP saw water droplets, or smoke, or particulates...

Nick