1. What would cause my copper hotwater pipes to blacken with a sooty powder? We removed a wall during remodeling and found the pipes with a black sooty powder. It comes off on to your hand when touched.
Plus, we found a plug with blackened cooper also.. ??
Any help would be appreciated.

2. What would cause my honeywell rectangle thermostat to engage to egnite the oil burner, shut off within 1 min. .. on then off on then off again. The heat does does not come on long enough. I tried moving the duration setting inside the box to no avail. Either it comes on and off or not at all.

HELP!!

NorthernHeat

Are you sure the soot is not mold that has grown in the moiture of a condensating copper pipe? 2. I'm guessing, the problem may be in furnace and not the thermostat.