Oil furnaces are used all over the United States and are a common method of providing heating for water, radiators and air conditioner units. A good maintenance program is required to keep your oil furnace working in tip-top condition. This will increase the lifespan of the burner considerably and will help to make sure that you avoid costly repair bills. The chances are however, that if you are reading this that it is too late for maintenance alone. Even with the most meticulously maintained furnaces, you will find that repairs are needed, especially if you are using an old machine.
Naturally the first step in oil furnace repair is to know which oil furnace parts are required. To know that you need to identify the source of the problem, which means you need to become familiar with the furnace, know how it works, and be able to test to find the source of the problem.
You will need to see inside the furnace to check for problems. However before you remove the housing, make sure you switch the burner off at the master switch. This is located on the outside of the burner. You can then safely remove the access panel to see inside. The panel is usually screwed in place around the rim, and you may need to then slide the panel off. There should be a little give if you push gently, and the cover should be easily removed. Most oil burners operate by placing the oil under pressure and spraying a mist of oil, which is then ignited. Often called pressure burners, there are common faults which occur. These could be any of the following: blower failure preventing oil from reaching the spark, a failure of the spark plug, thermostat malfunction, or faulty nozzles, tubes and transformers.
Any mechanical equipment which uses oil should be treated with respect, and you should ideally seek professional help and leave the maintenance and installation of furnace parts to a professional certified furnace technician. Tackling a complex repair job could prove hazardous, or may result in further damage to the furnace. Provided you are familiar with the machine, there are oil furnace parts which can be easily replaced by a competent home DIY and repair person. Simple troubleshooting will help you to save money on a house call from a repair man. At the very least, you will know what the fault is even if you can’t repair it, so can make sure that your repairman is being truthful.
If the furnace will not start up, it could well be a broken fuse. These are cheap oil furnace parts to replace. However the problem may be more serious and the motor could have given up. You may smell a tell-tale electrical burning smell, in which case repair in unlikely, and you will need to buy a new one. If the burner is running, but there is no flame it could be a blocked or have a faulty fuel nozzle. This is another cheap furnace part to replace. Disconnecting the motor, and checking the power to the transformer with an insulated screwdriver will let you know if the transformer is faulty. If the burner just isn’t producing enough heat, the chances are that the pipes are clogged up, and will need to be replaced. These are cheap oil furnace parts as well. Part of regular maintenance requires the replacement of furnace filters twice a year. If you haven’t changed your furnace filters recently, buy replacements and fit them. Even if they do not solve the problem they will probably need to be changed anyway. Check these items and you could save yourself considerable money, however remember – if in doubt seek professional advice. For the best priced parts shop around online. Naturally if your furnace had given up the ghost totally, speed will be of the essence so get in the car and get yourself off the hardware store.