Oil burner service frequency - hot water only

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thebigo

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Feb 11, 2012
29
live free or die
How frequently are people who use their oil burner, for hot water only, getting it serviced?

We burn approximately 150 gallons per year. The boiler was a new install in 2010 and was last serviced in 2011.

Last time I had it serviced the tech said I could go two years but I have read that newer lightly used boilers only need service when there is a malfunction. Of course I would rather take care of it on a Tuesday morning in August than have the family screaming about a cold shower in February but down want to waste the money if not necessary.
 
My oil burner is mostly hot water only. There are a few isolated instances where I call on it for heat. I burn 300 gallons per year.

I have mine serviced annually. It may be overkill considering how little it's used but I like knowing it's in good working order and ready just in case the pellet stove stove craps out.
 
I would suggest every 2 years. A good cleaning will make it more dependable, longer service life as well as more efficient. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
I work on large power plant boilers. For a small home heating boiler, I wouldn't do any maintenance.

At work we use #2 diesel to clean burner parts, what would be the point in cleaning the burner, when you are constantly running burner cleaner through it?

I have only serviced my home oil burner once in the fifteen years I have lived in my house, that was to adjust the spark gap on the igniter, the burner and firebox were pristine.

Dave
 
I burn a fraction of what the OP burns but still have it cleaned, inspected, a new nozzle put on, check the spark gap, and get a new tank filter annually or every two years. I like having another set of eyes on it and it's cheap insurance for me.
 
Hello

I use my Buderus Triple pass cold start boiler just for hot water with a Superstor Tank. It takes approx 1 Tank of oil per year.

The boiler oil nozzles do get worn and warp from the intense heat, so I change mine approx 2-3 years.

Most systems have an oil filter, some systems do not.

I changed my oil filter to the new spin type and instead of getting the 2 year residential filter, I got the 5 year comercial filter for a whoping $9.00 and a new nozzle for approx $5.00 at Home Depot. LOL
Also got the special guage on the Internet to know when the filter really gets dirty!
Of course, I installed the ball valve to make changing the filter easier, just change filter and bleed the air into a bucket next to the burner. Then I dump the oil from the bleed bucket back in the tank after bleeding. :)

I always put a lttle sticker with the Date of Filter change on the filter because I always forget! LOL

My 2 cents.
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Burner nozzles should last forever, if they are made of the correct alloy, There is nothing in #2 diesel or stove oil that would erode the orifices, also the heat in a home oil burner is not so intense that it should warp the oil nozzles, unless you are buying cheap mild steel nozzles.

Dave
 
Burner nozzles should last forever, if they are made of the correct alloy, There is nothing in #2 diesel or stove oil that would erode the orifices, also the heat in a home oil burner is not so intense that it should warp the oil nozzles, unless you are buying cheap mild steel nozzles.

Dave

Good to know, what are the best nozzles and where can you get them?
I take a 0.65 B
 
My oil burner is mostly hot water only. There are a few isolated instances where I call on it for heat. I burn 300 gallons per year.

I have mine serviced annually. It may be overkill considering how little it's used but I like knowing it's in good working order and ready just in case the pellet stove stove craps out.
I agree 100%.. burn around 200 gallons for Hot water...Peace of mind is calming specially in the winter..
 
Speaking of Oil fired Hot water, lot of family ask me why we haven't bought an Electric Hot water unit now that we use a Pellet stove primarily for heat..
I was informed many times that certain Oil furnaces need to stay and be hot all of the time as shutting them off for 6months or so can be a cause for leaks come heating season due to seals or gaskets shrinking... we have a Weil-McClain Gold series Furnace and we still keep it as a backup for zero degree nights as it is in an un-insulated cellar or power outtages since we have a generator with a power assist panel box and can run the heater and 9 other hard wired rooms off of it...anyone care to chime in/?
[Little leary of running our Harman via "dirty" power from a generator due to the delicate circuitry in the stove].. rather use the Furnace..
 
Speaking of Oil fired Hot water, lot of family ask me why we haven't bought an Electric Hot water unit now that we use a Pellet stove primarily for heat..
I was informed many times that certain Oil furnaces need to stay and be hot all of the time as shutting them off for 6months or so can be a cause for leaks come heating season due to seals or gaskets shrinking... we have a Weil-McClain Gold series Furnace and we still keep it as a backup for zero degree nights as it is in an un-insulated cellar or power outtages since we have a generator with a power assist panel box and can run the heater and 9 other hard wired rooms off of it...anyone care to chime in/?
[Little leary of running our Harman via "dirty" power from a generator due to the delicate circuitry in the stove].. rather use the Furnace..

Pellet stoves must run on a Pure Sinewave Generator like a Honda to work with no damage.
 
My pellet stove is located on the upper level of our house. The upper floor is where our main living is. The lower level has a 4th unoccupied bedroom, a mostly unused finished basement, a small unfinished area that contains our oil furnace and a 1 car garage.

We keep the oil furnace thermostat set to 55 degrees downstairs. Since our stove was put in, we haven't used the oil heat upstairs once. We use a programmable thermostat on the pellet stove to keep the upstairs at 62 degrees when we're gone at work all day. The thermostat bumps up to 70 about 1/2 hour before we get home. The upstairs oil thermostat is set to 55 so it can kick in in the event of a pellet stove failure or we don't make it home in time to refill the stove's hopper.
 
Pellet stoves must run on a Pure Sinewave Generator like a Honda to work with no damage.
My stove is connected to an APC wich serves as power back up, surge protector and line conditioner.
 
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Id suggest going two years and see what the tech says the next time. It is dependent on the burner and install to a lesser extent the amount of fuel burned.
 
Good to know, what are the best nozzles and where can you get them?
I take a 0.65 B

Get your oil burner nozzles from the original equipment manufacturer for the best quality. It is the aftermarket that will cut corners.

Dave
 
Pellet stoves must run on a Pure Sinewave Generator like a Honda to work with no damage.
yes... that was my reason for not using the stove with my generator,,,besides, saving so much not using oil that burning a few gallons during an outtage is no biggie.
 
Speaking of Oil fired Hot water, lot of family ask me why we haven't bought an Electric Hot water unit now that we use a Pellet stove primarily for heat..
I was informed many times that certain Oil furnaces need to stay and be hot all of the time as shutting them off for 6months or so can be a cause for leaks come heating season due to seals or gaskets shrinking... we have a Weil-McClain Gold series Furnace and we still keep it as a backup for zero degree nights as it is in an un-insulated cellar or power outtages since we have a generator with a power assist panel box and can run the heater and 9 other hard wired rooms off of it...anyone care to chime in/?
[Little leary of running our Harman via "dirty" power from a generator due to the delicate circuitry in the stove].. rather use the Furnace..

furnace = forced air
boiler = hot water/steam

I bet if you looked at the install manual for your heating system it will say nothing about keeping it hot all year. This is a common misconception that has been carried on for years after it was relevant. My boiler had been hot for 26 years when I got a electric hot water heater. The oil technician said if it leaks tighten the bolts a 1/4 turn. If it leaks real bad then you were due for a new boiler and I was lucky I found the problem before it was the middle of winter.

Keep your generator full of gas and make sure its been on for a few minutes before you hook up a load. Everything except a light bulb now has "sensitive electronics" and does not require a sine generator. I call hogwash...
 
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Even some light bulbs now. The basic incandescent bulbs are being outlawed. The CFLs have small ballasts and the LEDs have drivers.
 
furnace = forced air
boiler = hot water/steam

Thank you.

Boilers that have the integral HW coil are the ones that have to stay hot. Boilers that serve an indirect tank do not need to stay hot. But cycling a cast iron boiler to heat your indirect heat probably drops the efficiency to about 50% because of the heat wasted to warm up the iron. Maybe in the winter his waste heat goes into the house and isn't really a waste. But definitely in the summer. I'd go to an electric HWH if I was using an oil boiler only for HWH. They are really cheap.
 
Thank you.

Boilers that have the integral HW coil are the ones that have to stay hot. Boilers that serve an indirect tank do not need to stay hot. But cycling a cast iron boiler to heat your indirect heat probably drops the efficiency to about 50% because of the heat wasted to warm up the iron. Maybe in the winter his waste heat goes into the house and isn't really a waste. But definitely in the summer. I'd go to an electric HWH if I was using an oil boiler only for HWH. They are really cheap.
that's correct...
our WellMcLain boiler has the HW coil inside and thus needs to stay hot...
as far as oil consumption,In the spring/summer months the boiler kicks on approx every few hours or so for maybe 2 minutes.. don't forget the low is set at 140 degrees so not re-heating Ice cold water here..I had 100 gallons put in back in February and won't need any till November/December....
Living in the Northeast here we get lot of storms and power outtages are common.. I prefer having my furnace as a tried/true backup as opposed to relying 100% on our Pellet stove for heat in the winter regardless of using generator power to run it. It's why we haven't scrapped it in favor of Electric Hot water tank.
 
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