The oil burner is the heart of your heating system. If it goes out this winter your house will quickly turn into an icebox. Here are some things that you want to make sure get checked when you get your oil burner serviced. Make sure you ask the heating technician if these items are included in the tune-up/ inspection.
Oil Filter
Make sure that the oil filter leading from the holding tank is changed. This is the item that filters any contaminants that may be in your heating oil. If you have a waste oil burner that runs on used motor oil then you will have to change this at least 3-4 times a year. If not then one time a year should suffice.
Condensation in Tank
Water can collect at the bottom of your oil tank very easily. You want to make sure the tank is checked if water is detected you want to have it drained.
Nozzle is Replaced
The oil burner nozzle should be replaced. These items clog up really easy and can cause a lot of problems when they do. They are however cheap and should be replaced, optimally, once a year.
Ignitor Checked
After years of use ignition transformer needs to be checked. The spark might need to be adjusted. It could be really weak. If it is then a portion of your fuel coming out could not be being ignited.
There are also 101 other smaller things they should be checking. Heating technicians have special tools, like O2 sensors. that are specially designed to diagnose your oil burner. When the heating technician leaves he should be able to tell you what kind of state your oil burner is in. You should receive a list of what needs to be fixed now and what can wait. Staying on top of your yearly inspections will stop unexpected breakdowns always seem to happen at the worst possible moment. When a professional is servicing your oil burner you need to make sure you are aware of what he is doing. I am not implying you should hover over him but you should definitely ask a lot of questions and be fully knowledgeable about what is going on.
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