What's Wrong With This Picture? Flame Rollout

ANSWER: Flame Rollout

Flame Rollout is the descriptive term we inspectors use when it appears fuel combustion has taken place outside of the normal combustion chamber area.  This is a common observation and is usually the result of a restriction within a flue gas passage. The most likely sources of this restriction are soot and rust buildup occurring from age and lack of maintenance.

Upon seeing the staining of the exterior of the appliance housing, we will recommend service of the appliance by a professional HVAC service technician. The unit, left un-serviced, becomes a safety issue. Malfunctioning units can be a potential fire origin, and improper venting during the combustion process can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.