Gearing Up For The Heating Season

Cooler weather has arrived!  The last couple of mornings have reminded me that Fall is just around the corner.  So a few thoughts for Clean Burn waste oil furnace and boiler owners before we head into September:

1) Make sure you have cleaned your furnace, or that you schedule Eco Heating Systems to come do it for you.  Periodic annual maintenance is essential to the long term operation of your furnace, and your overall happiness with the furnace!  Just as a car or truck needs regular oil changes, your waste oil heater must be cleaned properly on a regular basis (annually for most Clean Burn owners, bi-annually for owners who burn waste oil very heavily such as quick lubes).  Clean Burn recommends you have your waste oil furnace cleaned out every 700 hours (for smaller furnaces) to 1000 hours (325,000 btu's and up).  Putting off periodic maintenance can cause expensive damage to the furnace and components. 

2) Establish a waste oil management program: train your employees on the proper handling of waste oil and the operation of the furnace.  It is best to have one employee in charge of the furnace, and a backup in case of illness.  It is also important to make sure they understand that clean used oil makes a happy furnace.  Contaminants in the used oil supply such as chlorine, anti-freeze, water and brake fluid can cause the furnace to shut down or can damage the waste oil heater parts.  Eco Heating Systems can train your employees on the proper operation of the furnace at your next periodic maintenance appointment.

3) Do not let the oil level in your used oil storage tank go below 12"!!!  If you are below 12" of waste oil in your tank, you are essentially out of oil.  This is the NUMBER ONE reason we get service calls during the heating season.  The oil pickup line is typically installed 8" - 10" from the bottom of the tank to help prevent drawing any sludge or contaminants into the oil supply line to the furnace.   To avoid paying for a service call, make sure you advise your waste oil hauler to keep about 1/4 of the oil in the tank when they come during the heating season.

And finally, here is the list of acceptable fuels for your Clean Burn used oil heater:  Crankcase oil, Transmission Fluid, New Fuel Oils #2, #4 & #5, Synthetic Used Oil, Hydraulic Fluid (up to 90 weight), Diesel Oil and Diesel Fuel (new or used)