Many homeowners have turned on their furnaces for the season. The mornings are getting colder and it is obvious that the cold season is approaching soon. Even if you have already tuned up your heating system, sometimes unexpected issues can occur. In this article, we discuss some of the most common issues that you may experience with an oil furnace.
Problem #1: The Furnace Won’t Turn On
When your furnace won’t turn on, then go and find the red reset button. For older models, you can find it on the primary control. This is typically located at the stack. For newer models, then it is typically located by the burner motor. Push the button once or twice but no more than that. When you push the reset button, it pushes more fuel into the combustion chamber. If you keep pushing it and the furnace finally does turn on, then you will have way too much oil in there. Be sure to check the circuit breaker or the fuse box. Sometimes when your oil furnace doesn’t start, it is the motor on the burner that has burnt out. It will need to be replaced.
Problem #2: The Burner Doesn’t Produce A Flame
Usually when this happens, it has to do with your burner nozzle. If you have ever looked at your burner nozzle, you will notice that the tip is very small. In fact, it is smaller than the tip of a pin. As with any opening, this area can get clogged with things such as water or trash. If it has been a long time since this part has been replaced, then be sure to do so. A professional will be able to advise you whether or not this is what the issue is. Fortunately, a burner nozzle is inexpensive to replace. Other issues that can cause this include a transformer or electrode wires that are shorting out or dirty and cracked electrodes. All of the above issues can keep a furnace from firing.
Problem #3: Your Home Feels Cold
If your burner is running and you can see the fire in the furnace, you may think that everything should work accordingly. However, sometimes homeowners find that although everything with their heating system appears to be working, their home feels a lot colder than it should. The best place to start is by checking your air filter. If it appears to be clogged or dirty, be sure to check it. Buildup prevent the appropriate airflow that your heating system needs to heat your home. If changing the filter doesn’t work, then it could be your fan belt. It may need to be replaced. If your fan belt seems to be in good shape, then the next logical cause for insufficient heat is the fan itself. Sometimes they burn out and need to be replaced. When all of these have been checked, then you should inspect your ductwork. Be sure that all of your ductwork is intact and that none of your ducts are hanging loosely or have been punctured. In the following article by Mother Earth News, they discuss how improperly sized return-air ducts make a difference:
Occasionally, insufficient airflow can be traced to an improperly sized return-air duct. One MOTHER EARTH NEWS reader wrote that, while painting, he removed an adequately large return grille in his home and discovered that a sloppy heating contractor had cut an extremely small, undersized hole behind the grille for passage of the return air.
One clue to improperly sized ductwork is a strong suction in the supply-air fan compartment. “There should be a slight suction around the fan, but not a real strong pull,” Richter says, noting that a heating professional will likely be needed to solve complicated ductwork problems.
Click here to see the rest of this article.
Problem #4: You See Smoke And Soot Coming Through Your Registers
When you have a heating system that is putting out dirty air, it can be caused by a few things. Usually it is caused by a clogged chimney or flue pipe. It can also be caused by a clogged or cracked heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger usually requires the replacement of your furnace. Regardless, regular furnace maintenance can help prevent this. Sometimes the gaskets around the inspection door get warped. This allows heat or smoke to escape into the basement or crawl space. The dirty air gets sucked in by the supply air-fan which is then dispersed throughout your house. One way to check to see if your furnace is putting out dirty air is by checking the combustion chamber. In the following article by Mother Earth News, they discuss how to check your furnace:
“First off, open the inspection door to the combustion chamber and place your palm close to the opening. If you can hold it there without discomfort, there’s probably no blockage,” Richter says. “But if it’s too hot for you to stand and smoke is puffing out, there’s something causing that heat to back out of the chamber.”
Click here to see the rest of this article.
Problem #5: Your Fuel Use Seems Higher Than It Should Be
When you notice that your fuel consumption seems excessive, there are a number of factors that can be involved. It can be caused by an improperly sized furnace. It can also be that your system has not been properly adjusted. Your furnace may need to be cleaned or it may have the wrong nozzle. Leaky or uninsulated ductwork can also cause this. In addition, make your home as energy efficient as possible. For example, drafty windows and doors may cause your heating system to use more fuel than necessary because it has to work harder to heat your home. In the following article by arch news, they discuss this in further detail:
If replacing, perform a load calculation to determine the correct size and install a properly sized unit. Make adjustments using instruments, said Markarian.
Have the furnace cleaned annually, stated Sweigart. Install the correct nozzle. Check and adjust oil pump pressure. Seal duct leaks. Insulate ductwork. Recommend that the homeowner invest in energy conservation items. Instruct occupants to keep doors and windows closed.
Click here to see the rest of this article.
Conclusion
In order to make your furnace work properly, you need to conduct regular maintenance on it. Make sure that you stay on top of changing out air filters and scheduling professional tune-ups. This will make your furnace and heating system, in general, run more efficiently. It will also run more effectively which means that your home will feel comfortable. By maintaining your system, you will prevent expensive repairs from occurring. Be sure to keep your heating oil tank full to prevent water and buildup from accumulating in your tank and clogging up your heating system. Do not attempt to conduct any DIY repairs on your furnace. These devices are more complex than you might realize. Be sure to call in a professional HVAC company to conduct all maintenance and repair work on your furnace and heating system.
Better Home Heat Council focuses on educating consumers about oil heat, especially on topics that involve the economical and efficient use of oil heat. We also help consumers with their energy efficiency issues in their homes. We help find the most effective solutions to make their homes more energy efficient in order to reduce their energy costs. We support local oil companies of Lehigh Valley that provide a range of services and products. Click here to search for a home heating oil supplier in your area. Many of our oil dealers provide energy consultations for their customers.