HVAC Heating

Accutools BluFlame Combustion Analyzer Review | Updated October 2022

Hello folks, it's getting around to fall and winter, and combustion season is upon us once again. Accutools is a brand well known for AC tools and is universally respected. They have now thrown their hand into the combustion market and delivered a real powerhouse analyzer called the BluFlame.

Today I will be discussing the New Testo 549 Digital Manifold 0560 0550. This is a brand new offering from Testo and even makes the bold claim to make analog manifold gauges obsolete. With a price of $199 it is not hard to imagine why.

Every year we are reminded that Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous toxic by hearing news reports of people dying or getting sick and ending up in the hospital. Today I will be giving a brief review of the Bacharach Monoxor Plus Carbon Monoxide Analyzer. With this instrument, you can measure ambient CO as well as take direct flue measurements of CO in furnaces, gas appliances, or commercial boilers.

The residential combustion season is fast approaching and with it, the opportunity to put a spotlight on a residential combustion analyzer made by E Instruments, the BTU900-2. This is the latest and greatest from E Instruments for the Residential Combustion Analysis segment of the market. The BTU900-2 is the base kit and will feature many of the things expected from it plus a little bit more.

Instruments that measure air velocity and air/surface temperatures are one of the most important tools an HVAC tech will have in his tool box. With these meters seeing everyday use, it is imperative that you understand the limitations of certain instruments and select the correct one. Having the right tool will help grow your business and will pay for itself and then some. With so many options out there, I wanted to highlight a few models from Extech and discuss what sets them apart.

The UEi C155 Combustion Analyzer is a no nonsense analyzer that gets the job done. This analyzer can measure temperature (20-2400 F), CO2 (0-20%), CO (0-2,000ppm). The C155 uses a CO2 sensor and the CO measurements to calculate the O2 present which increases the shelf life of the sensors. This change eliminates the need for the O2 sensor which in turns eliminates your need to send it in for replacement every year.

Today I will be going over the TSI 9515 VelociCalc Air Velocity Meter. This meter is an excellent entry level air velocity meter for the professional HVAC technician. The TSI 9515 separates itself from the plethora of air velocity meters in this price range by having a range of 0 to 4,000 ft/min (0 to 20 m/s) and an accuracy of 5%.

Last week I wrote about the TSI HM675 Hydronic Manometer . Today I will be discussing its older brother the TSI HM685 Hydronic Manometer.  The HM685 manometer is an upgrade over the HM675 and has the same features but with a few upgrades. First the HM685 can calculate flow, heat flow, impeller diameter and brake power.

Finding a quality hydronic manometer can be a tough task. However, the TSI HM675 Hydronic Manometer is great choice. The HM675 can simultaneously measure and display low side, high side, and differential pressure. This unit also has a nice splash-proof case and inputs for two temperature probes. The HM675 reads pressure in H2O, ft H2O, psi, in. Hg, m H2O, kPa, mm Hg, bar and has a range of 0 to 300 psi.

      Product selection in the Combustion Analysis market sure is “stacked”. All jokes aside, there are lots of options when it comes to which combustion analyzer you should choose. Today I will be discussing the UEi C157 Eagle3x Combustion Analyzer.