Oil Burner Maintenance Goes a Long Way

Oil burner are the lifeblood of any boiler or furnace. They are the hearts that make them beat. You have to take care of them for them to keep working. To many people neglect these vital machines until they go out and then cry to the heating technicians when they receive a gigantic bill for them coming out at 10 o'clock at night to fix a simple burner problem.

Follow this advice and problems with your oil burner will be minimal. The follow suggestions are for Beckett burners. Since they comprise of more than 90% of the marketplace I thought it would be foolish to talk about the other two major brands.

You want to filter the water out of your tank. Moisture can build up in those tanks faster than people think. Techs have drained tanks where in the first seconds nothing but water come out. Water corrodes the oil burner and messed up the nozzles which depends on a fine mist to work effectively. You may think you have a sealed container but all it takes is a little water over time to create a major problem. Making sure the fill cap and the vent cap are in place and tightly secure is one way to minimize this problem. You also want to clear ice, snow, and other debris that may collect on top of the tank. There are additives you can use to solve this problem and if you see water collects you can pop the water drain plug.

You want to get an annual tune up on your oil burner once a year. It should not cost more than a couple hundred bucks but heating professionals have the tools to scan any heating system and see if it is working properly. They can check the CO2 levels, wiring, and detect if anything is out of place. Things cost you less when you fix them before they break. Like a car some people wait til they are stranded on the street to call a mechanic while others are proactive and take care of a car problem well in advance. A certified boiler or furnace technician can analyze your whole system and tell you if your system is fine or if it could use some work. They also switch the oil nozzles, change the fuel and air filters, and adjust the controls. They also check the tank to make certain it does not contain any water.

If you follow these two suggestions you should have very little trouble with your oil burner. Beckett is the brand that most people have and they are known for making quality problems that last a long time. If you maintain your oil burner it will last a long time and keep your nice and toasty throughout the winter.