If you have recently moved into a house with a heating system that relies on home heating oil rather than a furnace that is electric or natural gas-fueled, you may wonder what you can and should do to maintain and deal with your home oil heater. Using a home oil heater is in some ways very different from other home heating systems, and it is important that you get to know these differences so that you can properly use and maintain your oil heater. By doing so, you will ensure that you do not have any major issues with your home heating system that could have been prevented with basic maintenance and know-how.
Keep the Area Around Your Heater Clean, and Look for Signs of Soot
As a general rule for maintaining your home oil heater, you should always try to keep the area around your heater as clean as possible. Because oil is the fuel that is burned by your heating system, there may be an oily sheen or residue that builds up on the heater or on surfaces around the heater. Cleaning those surfaces regularly will prevent the buildup of residue, as well as prevent dust, hair, and other particles from getting stuck to those surfaces, worsening your indoor air quality.
When you are cleaning the area around your heater, it is also important that you remain on the lookout for black soot. Black soot from your oil heater is a sign that your heating system is not just burning the home heating oil and indicates a malfunction in the heating system. If you notice black soot, contact an HVAC specialist as soon as possible to inspect and repair your system.
Make Sure You Have Home Heating Oil On Hand
One of the biggest adjustments that you will need to make in transitioning from a natural gas or electric furnace is the way in which your heating system gets its fuel. Natural gas lines and electrical wiring all come into your home through dedicated lines from central sources. You do not have to do anything extra other than turn your system on to get it to run.
Home oil heaters, on the other hand, do not have such lines. Instead, you will have to keep a supply of oil on-hand and put it into your heater when the fuel gets low. There are ways to make this process more convenient for yourself, including having home heating oil delivered to your home on a regular schedule. However, it is important that you always check your oil supply before a big cold spell or an incoming winter storm to ensure you have enough fuel to keep your home warm and make it through the storm in case the delivery is delayed due to the weather.
With these tips in mind, you can better begin to work with and deal with your home oil heater and keep it up and running in your new home.
Share27 February 2017
Last summer, I began to get extremely hot in my home. My air conditioning system couldn’t adequately keep my home cool anymore. Therefore, I contacted an experienced HVAC contractor. This individual visited my home and thoroughly inspected my unit. If your air conditioner isn’t working like it once did, your air ducts may be clogged up. Thankfully, an expert HVAC contractor can determine if faulty air ducts are the cause of the hot temperatures inside your home. On this blog, you will discover how an HVAC contractor can properly inspect your air ducts. Stay cool and comfortable during the hot summer months!