The Importance of Combustion Analysis

Our team of HVAC technicians encourages equipment maintenance practices, such as HVAC combustion analyses. These equipment maintenance practices verify equipment operating specifications are met for safe and efficient operations. Before we dive into commercial HVAC maintenance best practices, we need to understand what combustion analysis is.

What is a HVAC Combustion Analysis?

If you have a fuel-burning system like a furnace, makeup air unit, or boiler, you need to have a flue to exhaust the combustion gases. When the system is operating properly there will be a certain mixture of exhaust gases that indicate how much of the fuel is burned and if the air-to-fuel ratio is satisfactory. Our technicians will use advanced equipment to monitor the gases flowing through your system's flue during a combustion analysis.

Improve Efficiencies and Safety

Good equipment maintenance practice, which includes a HVAC combustion analysis, enables the HVAC technician to fully verify and maintain the equipment operating specifications for safe and efficient operation. Many manufacturers suggest that a flue gas analysis be performed at least annually. Adjustments that affect combustion will tend to drift with time. Wind conditions and seasonal changes in temperature and barometric pressure can cause the excess air in a system to fluctuate by several percent. A reduction in excess air can cause, in turn, a rapid increase of highly toxic carbon monoxide and explosive gases, resulting in rapid deterioration in system safety and efficiency. Low draft pressures in the flue can further result in these combustion gases building up in the combustion chamber or being vented indoors. Excessive draft pressures in the flue also can cause turbulence in the system. This can prevent complete combustion and pull explosive gases into the flue or cause flame impingement and damage in the combustion chamber and to the heat exchanger material resulting in premature equipment failure.

Benefits of Combustion Analysis

By learning what the composition of the system's flue gases is, one can figure out if too much air is getting into the combustion chamber or if there is too much fuel. If there is too much air, we can find places where additional air is getting pulled into the combustion analysis for the HVAC process. If there is too much fuel, we could locate the source of that as well. Proper operation starts with proper commercial HVAC maintenance that includes combustion analysis for HVAC systems.

Heat energy leaving the system exhaust flue (or stack) is often the largest single source of lost fuel energy and is made up of Dry Gas loss and Latent Heat Loss. Although some flue loss is unavoidable, equipment tune-up using combustion analysis data can often significantly reduce this source of heat loss and save fuel costs by improving fuel efficiency.

To keep your heating and air conditioning systems running efficiently, having regular commercial HVAC maintenance is key. As one of the most trusted commercial HVAC service companies in the Midwest, you will receive prompt service and won’t have to worry about our teams’ knowledge and corrective service capabilities. Our team of expert technicians can help with a combustion analysis of your HVAC systems. Contact us today!