My boiler is blowing white smoke???? Help!!

tattoo_3

I have an oil burner in position in the shed outside, it has a flue which turns at 90 degrees out through the wall and then is released at that height. I think it is called a balance flue? My question is: Of late I have noticed that when the boiler starts up, there is a lot of what appears to be steam or white smoke coming from the flue, this lasts a few minutes and then stops. What would be causing this. Condensation in the flue? Boiler needs serviced? Burner needs serviced? I would really appreciate some input on this problem as I don't want it to end up costing me a fortune in repairs!


tattoo

black-saturn

Sounds like a condensation problem but get it checked out incase it's anything dangerous.

economiser

Is it possible that this is just a condensation plume due the cold weather? I would wait and see if it goes away when the weather gets a little warmer.

If however you have been through cold spells without this happening before it does suggest a problem, maybe a water leak in the boiler. But wait and see before panic sets in.

I am sure though it is condensation and not smoke. Oil smoke would be black.

oldagetraveller

Too little combustion air would make black smoke, too much or excess air produces white smoke.
But as already suggested it may only be steam. Does the "smoke" dissipate quickly i.e. condense or really look and smell like combustion products hanging around in the vicinity.

Rhino666

I get this out of my boiler flue too in the cold weather and It's nothing to worry about. Water vapour (H2O) is a normal byproduct of complete combustion and escapes through the flue. If you have windows nearby might even have condensation forming on them from the vapour cloud. If you are worried about the combustion in your boiler, just check the colour of the flame on the burner - it should be a healthy light blue - like the British gas adverts ;-)