Fuel Oil Furnace Troubleshooting – 5 Troubleshooting Guide Tips For Your Fuel Oil Furnace
Wood fired and later on coal-fired fireplaces and central heating systems had been around for a long time. Ancient Koreans and Greeks both had methods of warming houses using empty spaces inside floors and walls. But fuel oil furnaces are some of the first widespread furnaces developed during the beginning of the Industrial Age.
Wood and coal where the fuels of choice in the US until and a published author, songwriter and businesswoman named Amanda Theodosia Jones tried her hand at inventing. In 1880 she patented what she considered to be the perfect heating furnace powered by a newly available fuel called coal oil.
It was John Standard, founder of Standard Oil who seemed to popularize this new “oil stove” heater using a patent he received in 1889. Even though Mr. Standard probably used his new heater to boost sales from his Pennsylvania oil fields, the fuel oil furnace became very popular in the extreme colds of the Northern US.
Even all the way to the west coast, where in the 1920’s two brothers named Rheem turned their small sheet metal factory into a fuel oil furnace maker. Chances are if you have a classic oil based heating system in your home, it is probably a Rheem.
Fuel Oil Furnace Troubleshooting
But unlike other types of furnaces, oil fired furnaces are extremely complex pieces of machinery and there are few fuel oil furnace troubleshooting guides available to homeowners. Plus many parts that can be fixed require special and expensive tools and training. But if you have ever wanted to know more about fuel oil furnace troubleshooting then you should read the tips below:
Tip # 1
Furnace won't turn on. Check for blown fuses or circuit, power outage, empty fuel tank, blocked fuel lines, or motor overload or burnout.
Tip # 2
Burner won't ignite. Check for fuel. Check the storage tank. Check the fuel lines. Press the reset button and wait 30 minutes and check the ignition again. Repeat if needed. Check and clean the electric safety.
Tip # 3
Not enough heat. Check the thermostat. Raise it thermostat a few degrees. Check temperature again. Check, clean or replace the air filter. Check and clean the blower fan and lube the blower motor per owner’s manual.
Check and replace if need blower belt per owner’s manual. Check the ductwork for leaks or breaks. Check, open and clean all registers in the floors or ceilings. Check system balance. These checks are standard in fuel oil furnace troubleshooting.
Tip # 4
Furnace keeps turning off and on all the time. Check furnace parts -replace the air filter. Check and replace the oil filter. Check and lubricate the blower fan motor. Clean the blower fan cage.
Tip # 5
Furnace is noisy all the time. Check for loose aluminum panels or metal covers. Check for blower belts that are old, sticking or worn out. Spray lube on sticking belts or replace ones that are cracked and worn. Adjust belt if too tight or too loose. Lubricate blower cage or motor if needed.
After using the fuel oil furnace troubleshooting guide without success, call a professional.
