How does an Oil Furnace Work?
It all begins with your thermostat. You set your desired temperature in the house, the number that you deem comfy. If the thermostat recognizes that temperature in the home has fallen below this point, it turns the furnace system on.
When activated, the oil furnace uses a fuel pump to draw oil from a reserve tank through a filter and into the burner chamber. There, the oil is converted into a mist that is sprayed onto the burner.
The chamber begins to heat up to extreme temperatures. The air that was pulled from the home and into the furnace passes over the chamber and heats up as well. The now hot air is then pushed through the duct system and throughout the home until the temperature rises back to the desired point.
What are the benefits of Oil Furance?
With so many furnaces, any responsible owner has to ask why a particular one is better than the other. So what makes an oil furnace special? Here are just a few of the reasons you may want to consider installing an oil furnace in your home.
- Heat – first and foremost, a furnace’s job is to heat the air in your home. An oil furnace is considered the number one heat generator out of all the furnace types. That means you can warm up faster than ever before and not have your day slowed down.
- Cost – the initial costs of an oil furnace can be up to 20% cheaper than the counterpart. That means you can have your house prepared for the cold at a fraction of the price. Everyone likes saving money and this is a great way to do it.
- Repairs – repairing an oil furnace tends to be much less expensive than with other systems. Other types of units have a lot of moving pieces and electrical systems, but oil furnaces are pretty straightforward and an easy task for expert techs, like us here at AC Repair Las Vegas!
What are the drawbacks of a Oil Furance?
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits when it comes to an oil furnace. But what about the downsides of such a unit? We’ve compiled a few of the pitfalls you may experience, but don’t forget the good sides as well!
- The Oil Tank – an oil furnace needs a place to draw oil from. Because of this, you will have to have an oil tank installed, generally underneath the house. This can be a pain and can put a strain on your budget, and you have to check often for leaks.
- Monthly Costs – electric furnaces and gas furnaces draw on power sources that are overall affordable. But the price of oil continues to stay high. This means the cost to operate your furnace on a monthly basis will be on the more expensive end of the spectrum.
- Shipping In Oil – you must keep your oil tank full at all times to stay ready for when the temperature drops. This means you will need a company to deliver and unload oil into your tank on a regular basis, meaning adjustments to your budget and schedule.
How do I maintain my Oil Furnace?
No matter what type of furnace you own, it’s crucial to take the proper preventative maintenance steps. Cleaning and taking care of your unit will extend its life, saving you money in the long run. And, as an added bonus, a clean unit tends to run more efficiently than a dirty one. Here are a couple recommended ways to maintain your new oil furnace.
- Clean the Filter – the filter is what keeps the dust and debris out of your heater system. Follow your owner’s manual to locate the filter tray, remove the old one, and insert the new one. You should change your filter every three months, but you may need to change it more often if you have pets or smokers in the house.
- Check the Smoke – some oil furnaces release smoke through a chimney system or other exhaust system. Check the smoke while the system is running periodically to see what color it is. If it’s black, the oil is not being burned properly and a repair will be needed to run efficiently again.
- Clean the Nozzle – many tend to allow a professional to operate this routine maintenance, but you can attempt to do it yourself after reading the manual carefully. Follow the directions to find where the nozzle is located, and wipe it down every month or so to keep it from getting dangerously clogged.