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Maintaining Conventional Residential Oil-Fired Heating Systems

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Maintaining Conventional Residential Oil-Fired Heating Systems Maintaining Conventional Residential Oil-Fired Heating Systems Greg Tuttle, Graduate Student, Department of Agricultural Engineering Susan Mireley, Associate Professor and Extension Housing Specialist Department of Human Environment and Design Periodically, oil-fired heating heat exchanger; a distribution systems need adjustment to keep system (ducts in the case of forced them running in the safest, most air systems, pipes in hot water efficient and least costly manner. systems); a burner by-products This publication covers maintenance This publication is designed to help of conventional oil-fired heating elimination system (exhaust stack, systems only Information on you understand how oil-fired maintenance and repair of the flue or chimney); and control newer oil furnaces is not covered. heating systems work (both forced mechanisms (such as the thermostat air and hot water systems), what and master switch). Understanding periodic preventive maintenance how these various parts operate and tasks the units should have, and work together is an important part of what special tasks and problems any preventive maintenance might arise that would need the program. attention of a heating contractor. All oil-fired heating systems are composed of a heat producing source (a furnace in the case of forced air systems and a boiler for hot water systems) 2 HOW AN OIL-FIRED HEATING SYSTEM WORKS How the Typical control, the furnace blower begins and finally the baseboard units (i.e., Oil Burner Works pulling cool room air through the radiators or convectors in some When a room thermostat is return air registers and ducts (see systems) in the various rooms (see turned up or the room temperature Figs. 1 and 3). The air is passed Fig. 4). As cool room air passes drops below the thermostat setting, through a filter to clean it of dust. over the warmed baseboard unit the unit signals the furnace or It then passes through the heat surfaces, the air absorbs heat and boiler that additional heat is exchanger, as described above, distributes it throughout the room. needed. As a result of the signal, where it is warmed by the hot Individuals, furnishings and objects the burner motor activates the fuel combustion gases passing through near the baseboard units are also oil pump, sending fuel oil to a the heat exchanger on their way warmed by heat given off by the nozzle at the end of an air tube out of the house. The furnace units. The now cool water (see Figs. 1 and 2). Under high blower then forces the warm completes the cycle, flowing from pressure, the fuel oil is pushed supply air into a plenum and the baseboard units through the through the nozzle to form a fine through the supply ducts, finally return branches and the return mist. At the same time, the burner distributing it through supply main back to the boiler. blower, also operated by the registers in each room in the home. When the water in the boiler burner motor, blows room air into The two air supplies, the drops below a predetermined the same air tube. The two-the air combustion air and the air temperature, the aquastat activates and the fuel oil mist-combine to distributed through the house the burner (see Fig. 2). The heat form a highly flammable vapor that system, should never come in given off by the burner warms the is then ignited by a spark supplied direct contact with each other. heat exchanger and rewarms the by the ignition electrodes. Once water in the boiler, which holds it in started, the flames continue to burn How a Hot Water Distribution reserve until the circulator pump in the combustion chamber with System Works moves the water through the additional fuel oil and room air When a house thermostat calls distribution system once again. supplied through the air tube/ for heat from a hot water This two-phase process enables nozzle. In turn, the combustion distribution system, the circulator the system to maintain an on- gases from the flame flow through pump is activated (see Fig. 2) and demand supply of hot water at all the flue passageways of the heat supplies hot water held in reserve times. The homeowner does not exchanger, heating it, and then in the boiler throughout the have to wait for the water to be continue to flow up and out the distribution system-through the reheated and circulated through the exhaust stack (see Fig. 1 for a supply main, the supply branches system. forced air distribution system and Fig. 2 for a hot water distribution MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION system). In the meantime, heat is YOU CAN DO transferred from the flue gases through the heat exchanger walls During the heating season, heating system operating to the heat distribution medium furnaces and boilers can efficiently and safely. You can do (either air or water) that flows accumulate a build-up of dirt. a number of the maintenance through the supply system, In addition, the various moving and inspection tasks yourself. distributing heat to various parts of parts wear. Dirt and wear can You may want to ask your heating the home. lead to a loss of system efficiency, contractor to show you some of system failures, and health and the procedures during his or her How a Typical Forced Air safety problems. Annual next visit or consult your heating Distribution System Works inspections and maintenance system owner’s manual. It should When the air temperature in the are required to keep an oil-fired provide an excellent guide to the heat exchanger reaches a predetermined temperature, which is controlled by a fan-and-limit 3 types of activities do-it-yourselfers manufacturer’s name and probably the correct owner's manual can be can do. This publication describes the address on the nameplate sent to you. Both numbers can be some of those activities in a affixed to your unit somewhere. If found on the unit's nameplate. general way, but the owner's the manufacturer's address is not If you are a novice do-it manual will give you specifics for available, consult your heating yourselfer, follow the your system. contractor or search the Yellow manufacturer's recommendations If the owner's manual is not Pages to find the name of a carefully, and do only those tasks available, write to the heating contractor that sells the explained in the manual. All others manufacturer and request that one brand you own. In your letter, give should be done by a heating be sent to you. You will find the the model and serial number of contractor. Oil is an efficient your unit so 4 and safe fuel if the equipment burner motor. Vacuum away any connections, bare wires, blown burning it is well maintained by loose dust and wipe away any oil fuses, tripped circuit breakers and knowledgeable people. Novices buildup or greasy dirt. Lubricate tripped reset buttons (the reset and inexperienced tinkerers should the burner motor according to your button automatically disconnects be aware of the potential for owner's manual. the electricity to an overloaded creating problems. 3. Inspect the burner mounting electrical motor) indicate that an plate for evidence of leaks (see electrical problem is present. The Furnace/Boiler Fig. 1). They can alter the fuel/air Contact your heating C-6ntractor 1. Change the fuel oil filter mixture and allow smoke to to correct it. (Warning: electricity periodically (see Figs. 1 and 5). escape into the room. If smudges is potentially dangerous for people The fuel filter cleans the fuel of are present around the plate, call not familiar with its operation. any impurities (e.g., dirt and water) your heating contractor to correct Repairs should be made by a that may affect the efficient supply, the situation. qualified service person.) ignition and burning of the fuel. 4. Inspect the furnace's/ boiler's 5. Inspect the exhaust stack for Consult the owner's manual for the electrical system (i.e., master bad connections and damaged or correct procedure. switch and electrical cable, see corroded pipes (see Figs. 1 and 2). 2. Clean and lubricate the burner Fig. 1). Electrical problems affect Replace if damage is evident. motor (see Fig. 1). Dust and oil the performance of a unit and also 6. Clean the draft regulator, buildup will shorten the life of the present a safety hazard. Bad the mechanism controlling the rate controls are found on older units, failure. Replace the belt when at which combustion gases are while primary controls are found slippage can no longer be pulled up and out the exhaust stack on newer ones. If the reset button corrected or belt failure seems (see Figs. 1 and 2). Soot and dust trips the burner off, a fuel supply likely. Adjust the belt tension buildup can interfere with the draft or ignition problem has occurred. according to your furnace's regulator's efficient operation. Push the reset button once to owner's manual. (Note: many Vacuum any loose dust and wipe restart the burner. If the reset newer oil furnaces do not have a off any greasy soot. Also clean the button trips the burner off again, fan belt-a motor drives the fan back side of the hinged plate. Any contact your heating contractor. directly.) Warning: shut off modifications or changes in the 13. Safety note: oil-fired furnaces electricity to the unit before draft regulator setting should be and boilers require an adequate starting belt adjustment. done by a qualified service person. supply of air to ensure proper and 3. Replace the air filter 7. Inspect the fuel storage tank safe burning of the fuel.
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