Combustion Analyzers

Choosing a combustion analyzer is one of the tougher pieces of test and measurement equipment for an energy auditor to choose. Combustion analysis is a newer technology that is often misunderstood. The amount of information on individual units and applications is limited and most of the information readily available is provided by the manufactures of the units, which is a bias source. With prices ranging from $400 to well over $5000, it is easy to get confused as to which features are important for an energy auditor and which features are overkill for you.

Although not all of the gases listed below require testing for current energy auditing standards, it is very important to know that compiling the all of the information available is a valuable asset to an energy auditor, a customer and ultimately our environment.

Oxygen, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Exhaust Gas Temperature, Draft, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), & Nitric Oxide (NO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

Overall cost of ownership is another factor when choosing a combustion analyzer. Depending on the usage of your combustion analyzer, the amount calibration will vary. Although energy auditing is not a new industry, it has seen vast growth within the last two years. Most estimates regarding the use of a combustion analyzer are generally related to use in the HVAC fields. Six months is a good guide line to use for the calibration of your unit. Older models will require the unit to be sent in for calibration. In addition to the expense of calibration the owner can lose the use of the unit for upwards of two weeks. Most combustion analyzers underwent a re-designed a couple of years ago and now accept replacement cartridges, in lieu of calibration. These cartridges range in price and the cost should be taken into account prior to buying a unit. This will allow you to figure cost of ownership over the lifetime of the tool. The most recent technology upgrade requires no cartridges or calibration and sensors that last upwards of five years for the the CO sensor, and 10 years on the O2 sensor.