Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - My oil burner burns rich -- spews soot

I tried searching these forums, but can't find a relevant posting. (but, apparently, I can BUY soot :-))

I recently noticed a lot of black soot in/around my oil furnace. Also, the outside of my house, where the furnace vents, is now entirely black with soot.

I can smell what appears to be raw fuel if I stand outside near the vent while the furnace is running.

So, my questions are these:

1) These symptoms seem to have begun "around the time" my tank was last filled. It was very low (about 1/8 of a 275 gal tank left) at the time of filling. Can the type/quality of oil make the burner start burning inefficiently? How about the low level in the tank?

2) What can cause this "all of a sudden" when the furnace was runing just fine before?

3) What is the best way to clean the black off of my vinyl siding?

4) I haven't had oil heat before. I don't have an oil company per-se. I buy the oil from BJ's who sends their negotiated dealer. Who should I call to fix this problem? Is it just a cleaning/adjustment?

5) anything else I should know? I don't seem to have a carbon monozide problem (yet) because my CO alarm hasn't gone off.

:wall:

Thank you for your time,

~Rick

It is not uncommon for such a problem to arise after filling a tank which was very low. Often sludge gets stirred up & drawn into the burner. I suggest you contact a local professional well versed in oil burners to have your heater cleaned & serviced. When the service person arrives, ask if he/she minds if you watch & ask questions. Most of us are glad to explain what we are doing & why. If there is no fuel filter in the system ask that one be installed (the bigger , the better). I frequently install two filters in series, preferably one at or near the tank & the second at the burner. I further suggest you get on an automatic delivery program with a local full service oil company. Experience shows low sulfur fuel to burn cleaner & save you money in the long run.

One of the best ways I've found to clean soot from surfaces is to rinse off as much as possible then use a good cleaner such as Spray Nine & a brush. Be careful not to get Spray Nine on painted trim.

As part of the cleaning & tune up of your heater, the servicer should check: Fuel pump (for proper pressure), ignition transformer, smoke level (should be zero), Draft, saftey timing, stack temperature, CO2, CO, & combustion efficiency. He/she should leave a copy of the test results with you.

Just a "heads up": Cleaning a sooted up appliance is not a quick job. To do it right, it can easily take 2-3 hours depending on the heater, accessablity, & if any problems are encountered. Clean fuel, plenty of clean air, & proper routine maintenance can prevent future problems.

Please post back in the same thread & let us know how things go.

Thanks, Grady! I have a few follow-up questions...
It is not uncommon for such a problem to arise after filling a tank which was very low. Often sludge gets stirred up & drawn into the burner.
Since the fuel supply comes off the bottom of the oil tank, wouldn't the system tend to suck up the sludge (or keep it used up) on a regular basis? I assume that sludge sinks to the bottom. Isn't keeping sludge out of the burner the job of the filter?
Also, if sludge gets stirred up when the tank is low (a bit under 1/4) then what would be the recommended time to re-fill to avoid this?

I suggest you contact a local professional well versed in oil burners to have your heater cleaned & serviced. When the service person arrives, ask if he/she minds if you watch & ask questions. Most of us are glad to explain what we are doing & why.
I'll be making some calls today!
If there is no fuel filter in the system ask that one be installed (the bigger , the better). I frequently install two filters in series, preferably one at or near the tank & the second at the burner.
There is a small filter at the bottom of the oil tank. It's a bit smaller than a car oil filter, about the size of a coffee cup. I assume I should have this replaced as part of the servicing?

I further suggest you get on an automatic delivery program with a local full service oil company. Experience shows low sulfur fuel to burn cleaner & save you money in the long run.

One of the best ways I've found to clean soot from surfaces is to rinse off as much as possible then use a good cleaner such as Spray Nine & a brush. Be careful not to get Spray Nine on painted trim.

As part of the cleaning & tune up of your heater, the servicer should check: Fuel pump (for proper pressure), ignition transformer, smoke level (should be zero), Draft, saftey timing, stack temperature, CO2, CO, & combustion efficiency. He/she should leave a copy of the test results with you.

Just a "heads up": Cleaning a sooted up appliance is not a quick job. To do it right, it can easily take 2-3 hours depending on the heater, accessablity, & if any problems are encountered. Clean fuel, plenty of clean air, & proper routine maintenance can prevent future problems.
Can I assume an hourly rate here? What can I expect to pay for this (ballpark -- understanding prices vary by area)
Please post back in the same thread & let us know how things go.
Will do! Thanks for the assistance.

~Rick

Grady has it all covered here. But like to just add. to keep the tank clean and the water out of it we pitch the tank a little to the outlet hole in the bottom where the filter goes. This way you get all the yuck and water out of it into the filter all the time. Thats why you should have the burner serviced each year and get a new filter and nozzle in it.

ED ;)

In theory you are right about the sludge but in the real world, especially with tanks 15+ years old, some sludge still builds up.

There is probably a cartridge inside the filter can & the cartridge is what is replaced. I prefer to put the big filter at the tank & a small one near the burner but just adding a second small one will help.

Cost all depends on the servicing company. Some do it on a fixed price while others do time & materials. In my area, labor runs from about $55 to $75 per hour.

Most oil companies shoot for a drop (on automatic delivery) of around 150-180 gallons, presuming a 275 gallon tank. If you call for delivery, it can't hurt to turn the heater off prior to delivery & leave it off 1-2 hrs. after delivery. This gives the tank a chance to settle down.

Ed is right about pitching the tank toward the outlet. Something to keep in mind if you ever replace the tank.