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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Oklahoma City
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    Default What is causing this soot

    This is a 4 year old sealed burner gas water heater. There was soot above the T&P valve. Never seen this before. There was no soot on the vent hood or top of the tank, only above the T&P valve. What caused it?

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    Default Re: What is causing this soot

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank Bombardiere View Post
    This is a 4 year old sealed burner gas water heater. There was soot above the T&P valve. Never seen this before. There was no soot on the vent hood or top of the tank, only above the T&P valve. What caused it?
    From what I have learned, it is normally caused by dust, soot, etc in the air. I have seen it with electric water heaters as well as gas. The heat escaping around the TP valve creates a chimney effect and the debris in the air collect. That might not be the best description but I think it is pretty close...

    Last edited by Scott Patterson; 12-12-2015 at 08:18 AM. Reason: Spelling
    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma City
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    357

    Default Re: What is causing this soot

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Patterson View Post
    From what I have learned, it is normally caused by dust, soot, etc in the air. I have seen it with electric hate heaters as well as gas. The heat escaping around the TP valve creates a chimney effect and the debris in the air collect. That might not be the best description but I think it is pretty close...
    Sounds plausible. I have seen that on other heat producing things around the house. Guess it did not cross my mind that this could be the same thing. Thanks

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Near Philly, Pa.
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    Exclamation Re: What is causing this soot

    Be careful labeling this 'soot'. It is technically "black particulate matter" until you have a qualified lab report that identifies exactly what it is. Yes, often 'soot' from combustion of NG or LPG can spill outside of the combustion chamber, get captured by the outer jacket and filtering its way up where it exists out the TPR port. Or, it can be household particulates from any of several sources that plate out here.

    I would simply note that a qualified technician should inspect the appliance and perform combustion analysis to ensure proper combustion and venting.

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