If you feel that your oil furnace is not operating properly, it is important to identify the symptoms so the repair can be addressed in a timely manner.
A problem occurring right in the middle of the coldest part of winter needs to be addressed quickly, and troubleshooting the issue will go a long way in getting the system back online.
Here are some of the more common oil furnace repair symptoms that you might be experiencing.
Oil Burner Working But Not Firing One of the most common causes of this issue is the oil tank is empty.
During extreme winters like this region has experienced in recent years, the furnace may be running much more than in recent years.
Your fuel delivery may be scheduled regularly, but due to more heat needed, the tank ran dry.
The lines could have picked up sediment from the bottom of the tank and now the nozzles are clogged too.
Other possible causes could be a cracked igniter or the oil pump has stopped working.
Have the tank filled with fuel and see if that addresses the issue.
If not, schedule a service call immediately.
The Oil Furnace Burner Not Working Possible causes for the burner not operating are loss of power and no fuel.
If a fuse has blown, the burner will not operate properly as well.
Make certain that the setting on the thermostat is appropriate, then check to see if any fuses are in fact blown.
Be certain there is plenty of fuel in the tank.
Also check to see if any wires leading up to the circuit box might be frayed or broken.
Turn the thermostat higher than normal, see if the system turns on.
It might be as simple as a blocked filter or possibly the blower motor is inoperable.
Smoke From the Burner A clogged nozzle is usually the culprit when it comes to smoke coming from the burner.
This might be a quick fix, simply adjusting the nozzle could do the trick.
If the issue is not in the nozzle, there may be a blockage in the chimney causing a decrease in air flow that could be the trouble.
The possible cure for this type of oil burner issue is usually a nozzle adjustment or replacement.
A combustion analysis will be able to reveal where the underlying cause of trouble actually lies.
Burning Too Much Fuel If you notice that your oil furnace is going through too much fuel, there could be some adjustments that are needed.
The first area to check is the condition of the furnace and when the last time it was cleaned.
The home insulation plays a huge role in how the furnace controls the temperature in the house.
Drafty doors and windows are huge energy wasters, literally sucking the heat from your home faster than it is produced.
Consider having the home inspected to see if those drafts are more severe than you realize.
One other place to look is the duct work.
The system needs to be sealed properly or air is escaping and not getting to the rooms that need heat most.
Fumes in the House You should never be able to smell the furnace burning inside your home.
Smoke issues inside the house can be caused by a clogged nozzle, cracked heater exchange, and improper end cone on the furnace.
This can be a very dangerous situation, and if replacing the nozzle does not fix the fumes issue, you may have to have the chimney professionally cleaned.