Oilheat System Maintenance in the Spring

The key to saving energy and money is improving efficiency! And when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your heating system, one of the best things you can do is schedule your annual system maintenance.

System maintenance (sometimes called a tune-up or a cleaning) is typically recommended once a year. Not only does maintenance ensure that the system is running properly, but it will also ensure that the system is operating at peak efficiency. In fact, regular tune-ups can help reduce heating oil usage by up to 10%!*

As part of their maintenance service visit, your oilheat company will do many tests to measure your system’s efficiency. What they find indicates what adjustments are needed. By doing this, they can save you money on your annual heating costs. These tests may include:

• Draft overfire and stack temperature: These two tests measure the volume of air and amount of heat going up your chimney.
• Draft at breech: This measures the draft inside the system; a weak draft won’t vent combustion products properly. If the draft is too strong, however, heat will be pulled out of your home.
• CO2: Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels will be tested to see how airtight your system is. If a high level is found, your oilheat technician will know your system has air leaks. He will find these leaks and seal them.
• Smoke reading: Smoke indicates that not all of your fuel is turning into heat when burned. Smoke also forms a layer of build-up in your system, reducing efficiency.
• Total efficiency: This testing combines all of the readings taken to give an overall efficiency rating of your system. If the reading is too low, it may be time to replace your equipment.

One of the best times to plan your system maintenance is soon after winter ends. So be sure to reach out to your oil dealer and schedule your system maintenance soon! You’ll be glad you did.

* Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance