Goals from Noel and Stephen Hunt and a third from substitute Shane Long made it six wins from six league and cup home games, in which the Royals now boast an average of four a game.
Chris McCann's late consolation was only the fourth Reading have conceded in that dominant home period and the identity of the goalscorers mean that the last 10 goals at the Madejski - the home of the London Irish rugby team - have all come from Irishmen.
But this win owed little to the luck of the Irish. The Royals were in control from as early as the fourth minute when Noel Hunt bravely headed home a Jimmy Kebe cross.
The striker beat Steven Caldwell to the ball but a clash of heads between the pair left Hunt out cold and the groggy striker was replaced by Long just 20 minutes later.
At that stage, Burnley were still well in contention and enjoying long spells of possession in the centre of the pitch.
But Reading took complete control five minutes into the second half when Stephen Hunt doubled their advantage.
The winger had just wasted a glorious chance when he headed over from Liam Rosenior's cross, but when Kebe delivered to the same far post space two minutes later, Hunt made no mistake with a downward header that squeezed between Brian Jensen and his right-hand post.
Midway through the second half it was all over as Long thumped home a third from close range after superb work down the left by strike partner Kevin Doyle.
Burnley's hapless day was summed up when substitute Robbie Blake had a chance to run clear but collided with team-mate Martin Paterson as he ran back from an offside position.
The Clarets gained some measure of comfort when McCann flicked home a Jay Rodriguez cross a minute from time, but a second yellow card for left-back Stephen Jordan in injury time underlined a bad day at the office for Owen Coyle's side.