How To Clean A Troublesome Waste Oil Burner
How To Clean A Troublesome Waste Oil Burner, is something anyone who has one is going to eventually have to know. They are in need of constant maintenance and if you can keep them in good working order, then you may be able to save a bundle on a serviceman.
First and foremost you must be familiar with the operational functions of the unit. The workings of the system are basically pretty simple. Starting at the oil supply/tank. The oil is piped out to the pump which is usually located near the source of fuel. This oil pump pulls oil out of the tank and pressurizes the outline to the burner.
Between the pump and the tank will be a filter and a vacuum guage to let you know when the filter needs changing. Keeping up to date on this guage and replacing the filter when needed will reduce annoying outages due to loss of prime and fuel starvation.
After leaving the pump the oil is pumped into the outline and goes into a pre heater to thin the oil for combustion. This heater is usually a cylindrical shape and will be installed in line somewhere near the burner.
This pre heater is a very important component to this type of system as the oil used is very thick and must be heated to 165 degrees and then forced out a nozzle along with compressed air which turns the oil into a mist.
Waste oil burners are also equipped with an air compressor which performs this vaporizing process. This compressor will be located at the burner and it will have vinyl or rubber lines that lead into the burner tube going forward to the nozzle.
Along the way there will be a check valve to prevent oil from falling back into the tank when the system is off or in standby. There is also a secondary relief line that will allow extra pressure to be returned back into the tank. This has a regulator in line that will keep the oil to the burner at a steady pressure.
When servicing an oil burner of this type, start by changing the filter and then move on to the burner. This must be completely disassembled to clean every part that is within the oil piping system. All lines should be cleaned with pipe cleaners and fittings should be sprayed out with brake or carburetor cleaner. All scale and oil residue should be removed to be sure there are no obstructions in each piece.
The heater should be disassembled and it must be cleaned to the point it looks brand new. Clogged heaters are the cause of most system failures. The heated oil builds up within the units and then they get clogged over time. This is also a point of maintenance that many servicemen will overlook so it can be several seasons since this part has been cleaned.
A new nozzle of proper size and angle should be installed. See the manual or the rating plate on the appliance for the correct nozzle. Some have a stamp on the nozzle itself with this information. Nozzle failure will leave you out in the cold. It is always recommended to have an extra nozzle on hand.
Check all rubber air lines from the compressor for cracks or loose connections. If there is any deterioration showing, replace the lines. Check to make sure the hoses are all secure at the nozzle and at the compressor itself. If your compressor has an oil port lubricate as needed.
Cleaning the appliance itself should also be done when servicing heating equipment. This will require you to clean the boiler or furnace of any ash in the combustion chamber and flues. The entire system should be brushed clean of all residual ash and sludge.
All appliances will differ and you should refer to your owners maintenance manual for this operation. Cleanings should be performed once a year and usually it's done right before the heating season to make sure your ready for extreme conditions.
Once we have cleaned the entire oil supply system, then we can reassemble the parts in the reverse order as they came apart. Take care to use a good pipe sealant or pipe dope on all threaded parts. Do not use teflon tape on an oil system of this type as the nozzle is very small and a piece of tape can get into the piping and clog the port.
After the system is back together you will need to prime the oil pump. This is an article that will explain that process. Bleed your oil pump I've set that link to open in a new window so you can finish this article.
Actually we are done just clean up any oil spilled during this cleaning operation and after you've bled the air from the system you are ready to put the whole deal back in business.
Todays waste oil systems have come a long way we have reduced carbon output a lot from earlier models. This is a green way to get rid of used motor oil which is a hazard in liquid form. In a world looking at every green way there is to help with the envirement, waste oile heaters are catching on again.
Now that you have finished reading How To Clean A Troublesome Waste Oil Burner, you should have a good idea where to begin. It's all in the cleaning, If you'd like to stay warm.
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Comments
This is so great. Great use for waste oil.
Thanks for the visit
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