Cleaning your oil boiler is vital for maintaining it and keeping it functioning smoothly. Failure to clean your burner on a regular basis, Burnham oil boiler, on the other hand, may result in soot and dirt accumulation over time, making your burner work harder, creating strain, and eventually raising energy expenditures.
Here’s how to maintain your oil burner to keep it in excellent condition throughout the year:
When Should You Clean Your Oil Burner?
It is important to clean your burning oils once a year. Cleaning is best done near the end of the winter because most people turn off their heater or boiler as soon as the weather begins to warm up. If you live in a cold region and use your furnace or boiler in the winter and fall, you should clean your oil burner at least twice a year.
Why Do I Need to Clean My Oil Burner?
It is vital to clean your oil burner. Some of the reasons why you should clean your oil burner include:
Efficiency
To get the maximum BTUs out of your heating oil, you should clean your oil burner more frequently. When there is a lot of soot on your Burnham oil boiler, for example, the burner doesn’t burn oil as effectively, lowering burn efficiency. When this happens, the flow of warm air into your house might be restricted. Simply, if there is soot accumulation, you are paying for oil that is not being converted into heat for your house.
Furthermore, if your oil is not flowing properly, you may have sludge in the lines. In this situation, the burner may not be as hot, and you may be losing heat. This aspect may potentially result in an unexpected outage during the winter.
Lower Cleaning Costs
Cleaning your burner after the suggested cleaning period may cost more and take longer. Cleaning it once a year, on the other hand, should take no more than an hour. After all, oil burner cleaning is a simple habit that saves you money and headaches while maybe preventing a breakdown.
How to Clean an Oil-Fired Boiler
Oil-fired boilers generate heat by pushing fuel oil mist through a nozzle and lighting flames using ignition electrodes. To heat your house, burner blowers and ducts circulate the hot air created by this ignition. Dust and debris accumulation can lower your boiler’s performance and make it extremely dangerous to use. However, the details of each boiler differ depending on the make and model; consequently, reading your handbook before cleaning is essential. Cleaning oil-burning boilers do not have to be difficult; you can do some simple cleaning processes yourself and seek expert assistance with more sophisticated ones.
Should I Hire Someone to Clean My Oil Burner?
Professional help is required for more intricate maintenance. Examine your burner mounting plate to see whether you need to call a professional. This is the plate that links the burner blower to the furnace shell; any streaks may indicate leakage.
Look for rust on the exhaust stack as well as leaks from the gasoline storage tank. Assume you see any leaks or rust. In that situation, it’s preferable to hire qualified technicians to replace exhaust stacks, burner nozzles, fuel tanks, belts, electrodes, burner mounting plates, and other critical components.
A professional can also perform a yearly efficiency test and vent system inspection. If you haven’t cleaned your oil burner in a long time, it could be wise to call a professional, especially if the equipment doesn’t appear to be working properly.
How Much Does It Cost to Clean an Oil Burner?
As part of a larger operation, oil furnace cleaning expenses might range from $150 to $500. If you fail to service your burner, it may transform from a necessary HVAC device to an unreliable and perhaps hazardous unit in your house. Regular cleaning of your oil burner guarantees that there is no mineral accumulation and that the system runs smoothly.
How Do You Remove Oil Burner Soot?
If your oil burner is working properly, there should be little or no soot produced as the fuel is burned to provide the heat required to warm your house. However, a single leaking or clogged burner can provide a dangerous condition that might result in an explosion known as a puff back. A puff back distributes soot throughout your ductwork, filling your home with black stains and greasy smoke that can stay for years. It is vital to learn what caused the issue and how to handle possibly harmful pollutants discharged by your furnace.
Seek Professional Assistance
It would be beneficial if you treated soot blown around the home by a broken furnace professionally. To avoid causing harm to the carpets, walls, upholstery, or other surfaces where the soot settles, neutralize the oily residue and carefully clean or wash it away.
What Happens If Your Oil Burner Isn’t Cleaned?
Failure to clean your oil burner on a regular basis may result in the spread of dangerous particles throughout your home. Because your air ducts are not effectively cleaned, this can lead to a variety of health issues, including colds, viruses, and other bacteria.
Cleaning an oil burner also entails cleaning the oil-burner nozzle to improve the operation of the furnace. It’s essential to know when you can clean an oil burner yourself and when you should seek expert assistance. Regular cleaning and maintenance guarantee that your oil burner functions well throughout the winter season.