What do I do if my oil burner fails to operate?

• Make sure all switches are in the on position. This includes the emergency switch at the top of the stairs and there may also be a work switch on your heating unit itself.
• Turn your thermostat well above the room temperature and not just a few degrees. If in doubt, turn it all the way up.
  
• Make sure you have oil in your tank. There should be a gauge on indoor tanks and we can provide you with a tank stick if you have an in-ground tank.
  
• Press the reset button just once. It will try to start. If it runs for approximately 60 and shuts off, do not hit the reset button again. If it stays running, keep your eye on it and call for service. There is a reason for it shutting off and it should be looked at.
  
• If you press the reset and nothing at all happens you may have a tripped breaker or blown fuse, the thermostat is not turned up high enough, or you may have an electrical problem. If you are experiencing electrical problems in other parts of the house, they may be related.

Why should I only press the reset once?

An oil burner requires three things to make fire. Air, spark, and oil. Fuel oil is very stable and can only be lit if it is atomized. In normal conditions when your burner starts, the ignition transformer makes a spark the same time fuel is pumped through the nozzle, at the same time that air is drawn into the fuel causing fire. If there is a problem with the spark, atomized fuel is being pumped into the chamber yet is not lit, this creates a dangerous condition for the serviceman who fixes the problem and tries to light the burner unaware of the excess fuel. For the serviceman's sake, only press the reset once. I myself have lost my eyebrows, eyelashes, and ½ of my beard because the home owner pressed the reset too many times.

Can my oil burner explode?

No. Unlike natural gas and propane, heating oil is very stable and hard to ignite. While a delayed start can be unsettling, you are in no danger of your house exploding due to heating oil.

How often should I have my equipment maintained?

• Once a year you should have a qualified, licensed professional clean and tune your heating equipment. This should include;

1. Replacing nozzle, filter, pump screen, and porcelain insulators.
2. A thorough vacuuming of the heat exchanger, soot collector, and smoke pipe.
3. The smoke pipe should be removed from the chimney base so the technician can remove any debris and inspect its condition.
4. Inspect the combustion chamber and remove any combustion products that could impinge the flame.
5. Perform draft and combustion tests.
6. Oil motors.
7. Inspect overall condition of heating equipment and make recommendations.
8. Test safety.
9. Clean up after himself and wipe down the exterior of the unit.

I have old equipment, should I have it replaced?

• This is an interesting question with interesting answers. First off, if your equipment has obsolete parts that are no longer made, if your heating unit was converted from coal, or if Elvis was still alive when the unit was installed the answer is yes.
  
• Some older equipment was made back when things were designed to last. There are many old units out there that are working beautifully. The problem is that when they were designed it was a different world. The price of oil was so low, no concession was made for any type of efficiency. Servicemen and oil dealers love them for quite different reasons. The servicemen love them because they are easy to work on, easy to clean and very forgiving as far as adjustments go. The oil dealers love them because they are not efficient and use lots of oil.
  
• Modern equipment is designed to operate at very high efficiency rates. In most cases, upgrading your system from one of these oil guzzling dinosaurs can pay for itself in just a few seasons.

Why does the price of oil fluctuate so much?

Heating oil is a commodity and as with all commodities several factors affect their price. Supply, the weather, tension in the Middle East. It seems as though when someone hiccups, the price of oil is affected.

I was told that I need a new heat exchanger, how do I know that I'm not being taken advantage of?

Unfortunately, there are three kinds of service companies out there. The kind that just wants to sell you something whether you need it or not, the kind who are just plain incompetent and there are companies that only sell you what you need, like Hi Ho Petroleum. One good rule of thumb is to get a second opinion. Anyone who pressures you to replace a part might not have your best interest in mind. On the other hand, your equipment may be dangerous to operate. If they claim that it is dangerous to you, ask them to show you the part. A burnt out heat exchanger will have obvious signs of damage. Only work with companies who have a good reputation in the community or someone who has been referred by someone you know. And always ask questions.

What should I do if my carbon monoxide detector goes off?

Keeping your carbon monoxide detector in good working order with fresh batteries is very important these days. I can't tell you how many times we have responded to a carbon monoxide detector going off only to find the batteries dead. But, if you hear your detector going off, call the fire department and get out of the house. It's better to be a bit embarrassed then dead. They will determine the source and contact the appropriate people to correct the situation. You might be a bit embarrassed then.

Baseboard Heating vs. Forced Hot Air

I am often asked this question. Which is better a forced hot air system or a hydronic system (Baseboard)?

• The answer is really a matter of taste and logistics. A forced hot air system gives the home owner instant gratification. You turn up the thermostat and you get heat right away. There is no water involved, therefore you need not worry about leaks and heating pipes freezing. Some of the complaints are that it's dry heat. You need some type of humidification to keep floors from cracking and you can even suffer from nose bleeds because of the heat. There is also the problem of the temperature getting a little warmer then you want before the unit cycles off and a bit colder before the unit cycles on. It can be a little noisy as the air rushes through the ducts.
• Base board heat seems to give a more even temperature. The baseboard radiation tends to hold the heat for longer periods of time and stays within the comfort zone. It does, however take longer to heat your house. I used to live in the Hamptons where many of the homes are vacant for periods of time. When the homeowner would come out on a cold weekend it could take quite a while to bring the house up to the desired temperature with a baseboard system. With a water system, it seems as though the water wants to get out. Small leaks can turn into big ones over time and there is a bit of maintanence required to keep them in good working order.
• Once you have either baseboard or forced hot air in your home, it's difficult and expensive to switch to the other.