Propane, home forced hot air heater

[Bob]

Our heating system is doing something strange. During this winter it started banging in the combustion area. It does not do it when it's running. It is 3 loud bangs and then it won't do it for a couple days. Sometimes it's real loud and sometimes it's not so intense. I thought it was the hot water heater but this morning I was close to the utility room when it started doing it and sure enough it is coming from the heater combustion chamber. The heater is 3 1/2 years old.
Have any of you ever heard of this?
Thanks
Bob

[FLG]

I know absolutely nothing about this stuff. But is it possible the ignition source is weak causing a buildup of exess gas, so when it does ignite its a bit much.

[Bob]

I know absolutely nothing about this stuff. But is it possible the ignition source is weak causing a buildup of exess gas, so when it does ignite its a bit much.

Makes sense.
Thanks

[89MOPAR]

 

May want to find owners/ service manual and see if your heater has a "purge" timer in the controls - essentially this will run the fan for a minute or two to clear out any unburnt gases before the gas valve opens and the ignitor fires.  Could be this isn't operating correctly.

If your system had water tied into it somehow - I would guess "steam hammer "  -- water flashing to steam expands 1600x in volume, this can cause "hammering' sounds in the piping.

[Todd Wilson]

My heating and air buddy said it could be dirty burners. Also could be something bad in the chimney. Dirty chimney. Birds Nest or your top cap is damaged or the wind is blowing just right not causing it to draft right. Says theres excess gas build up in the combustion area. Propane is really dirty and hard on stuff inside the heating unit.


Todd

[bakerhillpins]

My heating and air buddy said it could be dirty burners. Also could be something bad in the chimney. Dirty chimney. Birds Nest or your top cap is damaged or the wind is blowing just right not causing it to draft right. Says theres excess gas build up in the combustion area. Propane is really dirty and hard on stuff inside the heating unit.


Todd

That's what I was thinking. Sounds like hard starting. Needs a cleaning and a chimney inspection.

I thought that Propane was clean with Oil being really sooty and dirty. Propane is hard on masonry right? 

[Todd Wilson]

My heating and air buddy said it could be dirty burners. Also could be something bad in the chimney. Dirty chimney. Birds Nest or your top cap is damaged or the wind is blowing just right not causing it to draft right. Says theres excess gas build up in the combustion area. Propane is really dirty and hard on stuff inside the heating unit.


Todd

That's what I was thinking. Sounds like hard starting. Needs a cleaning and a chimney inspection.

I thought that Propane was clean with Oil being really sooty and dirty. Propane is hard on masonry right? 

I dont think propane itself is real dirty but the stink they put in it with some other chemicals is the real problem.  It will eat galvanized stuff up over time. They are all going to stainless to help with the problem. Or you get a reconditioned tank that had something else in it and theres residue of it being burned as well as the propane. He said Hank Hill with his clean burning sweet  lady propane speech is actually not acurate.


Todd