Diy: Ways To Troubleshoot and fix Your Oil Furnace

An oil-burning furnace is essentially a blowtorch in a fire resistant box. Electrical ignition sets off a high-pressure mist of oil and air, heating the air in an adjacent chamber. A fan propels the warmth throughout your property. Despite its complexity, complications with an oil-burning furnace are infrequent. The good thing is that various normal complications can be sorted out conveniently by a home owner. However, some problems call for an Heating and air conditioning professional. If the family is already getting frigid and distressed, take immediate steps to protect the safety and comfort of you and your family before you venture into furnace analysis. 



Begin easy

Examine the thermostat. Is the fan mode set to automatic? Is the thermostat set to heat? Check out your fuel oil supply. Don’t just count on the gauge - it’s as vulnerable to failure as any element. Unless you just had it filled fairly recently, examine the fuel tank itself. Use a dipstick to determine how much fuel you have. By the way, it’s never ever a good idea to permit your fuel level get low; that’s when sludge and sediment get drawn into lines and plug up filters. Check the furnace. Can you hear it operating? Is the cabinet warm to the touch? The air filter can simply be so dirty it’s obstructing the flow of warmed up air. Take out the filter. Problem solved? Great. Install a clean filter. In rare cases, clogged ducts can restrict air flow adequately to minimize the performance of your furnace. Duct cleaning is filthy work that’s best left to specialists. 



If the furnace isn’t functioning, go back to the thermostat and crank it up by 5 or 10 degrees. Does the furnace start? If not, switch the fan setting from “automatic” to “on” or “run". If air isn’t moving and the furnace fan isn’t running, check your circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker is tripped and resetting it only causes it to trip again, have an electrician check the wiring and circuit capacity. If the fan is working, your circuit is fine. Next, look for the “reset” button on the furnace control module. If it's popped up, your issue may be fuel-related - either a lack of supply or an obstruction in its flow. Press the reset button and check your oil tank and in-line filter. Clean or swap the filter if it’s gunked up. Don’t hit “reset” more than twice. The process pumps oil into the burner chamber, where it can build up if you have no ignition. When the furnace finally does start, it can do so explosively. So if the button won’t reset, or quickly pops up again, it’s time to call up a specialized repair service. 



As you look at your furnace system, watch for two possible causes: Leaks in oil lines and soot in the burner chamber. Leaks allow air into the system, which can hurt performance. And soot suggests inefficient combustion that can lead to other problems. Both conditions should be addressed by an expert.



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Park Mechanical Plumbing, Heating & Air

3104 O St. Ste 15

Sacramento, Ca 95816

916-452-4154