# What's up with my heater? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2007, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285 "2007-11-30T05:44:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/1 "2007-11-30T05:44:22Z")
My propane-fueled heater is making noise, like an ill-tuned woodwind being blown by an amateur. It’s a high-pitched squeal. It happens occasionally as it kicks on. So what’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/2 "2007-11-30T06:12:09Z")
Clogged fuel lines? Does it happen if you run the gas, without a flame? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/3 "2007-11-30T15:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Clogged fuel lines? Does it happen if you run the gas, without a flame? [/QUOTE] The furnace is fed by a 124 gallon tank. I’ve never checked the fuel line. (Wouldn’t know how.) It happens when it is very cold. Maybe there’s moisture in the propane that’s freezing? I’ve never run it without a flame. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/4 "2007-11-30T16:22:13Z")
Check the burner assembly - paying particular attention to the venturi/orifice area - for spiderwebs and other detritus. Spiders just love to nest in these things. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/5 "2007-11-30T17:13:12Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] My propane-fueled heater is making noise, like an ill-tuned woodwind being blown by an amateur. [/QUOTE] Does it sound like a [Corrugaphone](http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=52fp08)? They make those out of gas pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/6 "2007-11-30T17:36:19Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Does it sound like a [Corrugaphone](http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=52fp08)? They make those out of gas pipes. [/QUOTE] No audio on that clip. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/7 "2007-11-30T17:56:41Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] No audio on that clip. [/QUOTE] Ack! The newmusicbox site seems to have lost its sound. There’s a sound clip of a corrugaphone on [this page](http://www.windworld.com/products/jbhmicd.htm), titled ‘branching’. When gas moves through a corrugated pipe, the corrugations impose a resonance on the flow. The right combination of flow rate and corrugation space will produce an audible whistling sound. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/8 "2007-11-30T18:07:31Z")
Does it have a fan or blower? If so, I’d vote for a dry bearing. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/9 "2007-11-30T18:12:09Z")
It does have a blower, but it doesn’t come on until the furnace warms up a bit. The sound happens when the furnace is igniting. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/10 "2007-11-30T23:51:02Z")
Can you run the fan without the burner? Even if you have to jump something temporarily, that will help to narrow things down. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/11 "2010-11-12T04:37:50Z")
I’ve been running the furnace recently. The howling has gotten worse. It lasts longer than it used to. The sequence is this: The thermostat clicks on. Gas flows into the burner. In a few seconds the howling starts. It continues for up to 20 seconds. Then it quiets down and a few minutes later the blower comes on. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/12 "2010-11-12T05:00:27Z")
When did you last clean the combustion chamber? Tiny clinkers and bits of incinerated bugs build up over time and impede combustion. My furnace quieted considerably after I cleared the dust bunny off the air intake for the burner manifold, and blew a few hundred grams of incinerati out of the burn box. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/13 "2010-11-12T05:07:01Z")
i don’t even know where the combustion chamber is. I should find out where the filter is, and replace it, now that you mention dust. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/14 "2010-11-12T05:17:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > i don’t even know where the combustion chamber is. I should find out where the filter is, and replace it, now that you mention dust. I would suggest you get it serviced, you life ,may depend on it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/15 "2010-11-12T05:20:47Z")
OK. Apparently I have an Empire DV-25-SG, and I found an owner’s manual online. ```auto 7. On Propane gas, if a whistling noise (resonation) occurs. a. See Page 13, "Primary air adjustment". b. Reduce manifold pressure. c. Size main burner orifice with a drill bit. For DV-25 use #54 drill bit. For DV-35 use #50 drill bit. ``` Page 13 says: > [@](#): > > On Propane gas, if a whistling noise (resonation) occurs, screw air adjustment bolt into the chamber support in order to reduce the amount of primary air. If the whistling noise (resonation) is not eliminated when the air adjustment bolt is screwed into the chamber support this may indicate the air adjustment bolt is misaligned. grasp air adjustment bolt and pivot (push) air adjustment bolt away from yourself. Observe the main burner flame as you push air adjustment bolt and when the main burner flame begins to develop a yellow flame, you should stop pushing on the air adjustment bolt. Screw air adjustment bolt out of the chamber support until the yellow flame on the main burner is eliminated. The air adjustment bolt should now be properly aligned. the reduction in primary air will soften the main burner flame and will eliminate the whistling noise (resonation). I’ll try this Saturday. . ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-heater/428285/16 "2010-11-23T22:56:29Z")
If anyone’s interested, I did try the instructions. The resonance was reduced somewhat, but it’s still there – and very annoying. The furnace has never been serviced since it was installed in 2001 or 2002, so I reckon it’s about time. Someone will come out a week from Thursday. Should cost about $90 plus tax.