Its that time of the year again. Before the start of every heating season, I always think it is a good idea to get the furnace serviced. This will, hopefully, prevent the startling cold wake up one January morning accompanied by that sinking feeling that the heat is out. I was a little late this year getting it scheduled, but we managed to get it done before the major part of the heating season started.
It is awfully tempting to pop the covers off the furnace and start cleaning it myself. But no, I decided that a real boiler service person should do it, and I called our fuel oil company, Kosco, and set it up. They were very nice and explained that we should have had this done over the summer and if for some reason, the tech was called out to an emergency, we would not have our work done until spring. Fortunately for us, he was not, and the work got done. Brian, as the name on the shirt indicated, showed up around 5:15 pm and worked until 7:15 pm.
I tried to snap a few pictures of the insides of the boiler without getting in the way, but I only got one. Looking down from the top, this is where the smoke and heat from the burner rise to the chimney attached to the top of the unit. The large brown things are the cast iron boiler tubes where the water runs through to be heated.
There was quite a bit of scale on the cast iron boiler tubes, so they were scraped off with a wire brush and vacuumed out. Brian explained that this would cut down on the efficiency because the build up of scale and soot cut down on the absorption of heat, so more heat went up the chimney that should have. He also commented on the fact that there was very little rust in the boiler section. I mentioned that we were careful to set the low temperature setting above 140 degrees F to keep condensation from forming. “THAT’S RIGHT!” He exclaimed. I am sure that I made his day.
The burner had a new nozzle installed. The nozzle is what creates the spray of oil which is then ignited and burned. It can get pitted and worn with time. The nozzle is part of what determines the firing rate. The firing rate is the amount of fuel burned over time. Example our furnace has a firing rate of one gallon per hour for a 120,000 btu output.
He also checked the fuel tank for water, changed the fuel filter, changed the pump strainer, vacuumed out the chimney, and checked the igniter. Finally, he check the efficiency (82.5 percent) and the combustion by products (carbon monoxide (CO)). He said our furnace is not bad, but we could get a more efficient unit as it is ten years old. I will look on line to see what I can find.
I received a through explanation of the service report and what each item meant. It was very educational. I almost think I could do it myself next year if I buy the CO monitor and the parts. If my wife lets me. I don’t want another lecture on attempting dangerous things. Sometimes I feel like I am in second grade.
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So you were hanging over his neck like a vulture the whole time he was there. I’m sure he appreciated that !
Yep, that’s right, asking all sorts of questions and being a general nuisance and a pain in the ass. So much so that he told me that he lives right around the corner and gave me his home phone number.
Not everything is a negative, you know. Sometimes these guys like to talk about what they do and what they know.
Thermostat is calling for heat but burner won’t start. Air handler is blowing cold air out.
Forgot to mention that burner runs to add hot water to water tank.
I get my waste oil boiler service every year. Good post! The technician comes in a inspects the pump, changes the nozzles, filters, and cleans the entire system. Takes him 2-3 hours. A must have if you want to keep your furnace in good shape.
-Wesley
Apparantly the tech was more polite than me. When it happens to me, I can often spill oil inadvertantly on the customer…
I don’t mind talking, but don’t like to be slowed down, either.
I have a Beckett burner in my Newmac furnace, about 13 yrs old. Has been serviced every year. Starting about 2 yrs ago I get soot blowing out of damper and soot build up in combustion chamber. Have tried new damper. Every setting is to spec’s. any answers that I haven’t tried. ????
@ wayne, I would be looking at the nozzle size/angle and making sure the it is getting enough air. Get a burner guy to look at issue.
@ Paul, I enjoyed the article and pics. However, I wonder about your remark on condensation forming in boiler by keeping low limit above 140. I do not think it would matter – example is the low mass/zero start up boilers coming on the market now. They do not keep temperature and only heat up the water when there is a call for heat.
I am taking a 20 week coarse as a Oil Burner Mechanic and Hope to work in the field someday. 8)
Hey Jeff, Good luck with your course. The difference between the low mass boilers and my unit (which is definitely not low mass) is the heat heat exchangers. Mine is cast iron and prone to rust. During the heating season, if the water temperatures are 140 degrees or above, then water does not condensate on the heat exchanger, causing rust.
The newer units are better because they have a stainless steel heat exchanger, which of course, won’t rust.
my boiler runs fine but sometimes when it starts up i get a rumble and some some in the bsmt..boiler has been cleaned,filters changed and nozzle changed and screens changed..any suggestions??.its a beckett burner and a peerless furnace,,,
tony from brooklyn N Y
wish someone would answer my question about some smoke coming into my bsmt ………….tony from bklyn.