Oil furnace trouble

booterbill · 03-01-2013, 11:05 AM

I have a hanging oil firnace in my workshop, today i noticed an off smell then
i saw oil dripping from the bottom of the firnace, my oil line is not leaking any thoughts on where the oil may have come from.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 03-01-2013, 11:27 AM

Could be a number of things. I'd start with the nozzle. The nozzle sprays the oil for combustion and sometimes a clog can cause bad spraying and a drip. It would be a small leak but you'd certainly smell it. Just a guess.

NoBozo · 03-01-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booterbill

I have a hanging oil firnace in my workshop, today i noticed an off smell then
i saw oil dripping from the bottom of the firnace, my oil line is not leaking any thoughts on where the oil may have come from.

Underneath the transformer in the blower box is a "Photo Cell" that detects the fire at the nozzle. If the photo cell dosn't SEE the fire, it will shut the furnace (and fuel pump) down after a couple of seconds so the pump won't continue to pump UN Ignited fuel into the firebox. Maybe the photo cell is faulty. Sometimes the Photo cell can get soot on the Eye Window of the cell and shut down everything....OR Not..

Best to call the furnace guy.

NB

RLW · 03-01-2013, 11:49 AM

booterbill, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.
My thought is the same as NoBozo and that the photo cell is either dirty or bad. I would also call a burner man as there are several other things that could also create this condition.

Hawley · 03-01-2013, 03:39 PM

A dirty cad cell will not cause an oil leak. Poor combustion could be some of the problem. Someone mentioned the nozzle. The nozzle has a very tiny orifice that does three things. It meters the oil, patterns the oil and gives an angle of spray. If the orifice gets plugged you may have a spray pattern that is causing impingment of the oil thus it is not being burned properly and create a leak. It is nothing to fool with. You should have a qualfied technician servie the appliance. Good luck. By the way I have been servicing burners for almost forty years.

RLW · 03-01-2013, 06:49 PM

Hawley, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Thanks for your input as it is people like yourself that help out other members. Again thanks

I still feel that one should bite the bullet and get a good burner tech in and fix it right. Your home is to important to play with something that could cause a lot of damage. Just this members 2¢’s worth as I care to much for my home to take any chances.

ITD · 03-01-2013, 09:23 PM

Oil burners need yearly service, cleaning, new nozzle, new oil filter, new or clean strainer for most, electrodes cleaned or replaced, gap set, soot removed, efficiency checked with instruments. Oil dripping from the unit is not good. I'd call someone to check it out and wouldn't fool with it unless you know what you are doing. Good luck.

HEP170DW · 03-11-2013, 08:55 AM

Here is contact info for my oil burner guy. He's independant and out of Sanbornton. Many years experience, honest, ethicle and fair priced.

Robert's - Boiler & Furnace, LLC - Robert Auger 603-286-7676

dpg · 03-25-2013, 10:46 AM

So what did it end up being? Inquiring minds want to know.

Wolfeborough Diner · 03-27-2013, 04:44 PM

Terry's Independent Heat does a great job they are located in Wolfeboro and the phone number is 603-455-1074. Best of luck!!!!

03-01-2013, 11:05 AM	#1
booterbill Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oil furnace trouble I have a hanging oil firnace in my workshop, today i noticed an off smell then i saw oil dripping from the bottom of the firnace, my oil line is not leaking any thoughts on where the oil may have come from.

03-01-2013, 11:49 AM	#4
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Furnace problem *booterbill,* I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. My thought is the same as NoBozo and that the photo cell is either dirty or bad. I would also call a burner man as there are several other things that could also create this condition. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

03-01-2013, 03:39 PM	#5
Hawley Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Oil Furnace Trouble A dirty cad cell will not cause an oil leak. Poor combustion could be some of the problem. Someone mentioned the nozzle. The nozzle has a very tiny orifice that does three things. It meters the oil, patterns the oil and gives an angle of spray. If the orifice gets plugged you may have a spray pattern that is causing impingment of the oil thus it is not being burned properly and create a leak. It is nothing to fool with. You should have a qualfied technician servie the appliance. Good luck. By the way I have been servicing burners for almost forty years.

03-01-2013, 06:49 PM	#6
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	*Hawley,* I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Thanks for your input as it is people like yourself that help out other members. Again thanks I still feel that one should bite the bullet and get a good burner tech in and fix it right. Your home is to important to play with something that could cause a lot of damage. Just this members 2¢’s worth as I care to much for my home to take any chances. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits. Last edited by RLW; 03-01-2013 at 10:13 PM.

03-01-2013, 11:27 AM	#2
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	Could be a number of things. I'd start with the nozzle. The nozzle sprays the oil for combustion and sometimes a clog can cause bad spraying and a drip. It would be a small leak but you'd certainly smell it. Just a guess.

The Following User Says Thank You to RLW For This Useful Post:
NoBozo (03-01-2013)

03-01-2013, 09:23 PM	#7
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,860 Thanks: 461 Thanked 666 Times in 366 Posts	Oil burners need yearly service, cleaning, new nozzle, new oil filter, new or clean strainer for most, electrodes cleaned or replaced, gap set, soot removed, efficiency checked with instruments. Oil dripping from the unit is not good. I'd call someone to check it out and wouldn't fool with it unless you know what you are doing. Good luck.

03-11-2013, 08:55 AM	#8
HEP170DW Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 170 DW Hwy, Belmont Posts: 16 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Here is contact info for my oil burner guy. He's independant and out of Sanbornton. Many years experience, honest, ethicle and fair priced. Robert's - Boiler & Furnace, LLC - Robert Auger 603-286-7676

03-25-2013, 10:46 AM	#9
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	So what did it end up being? Inquiring minds want to know.

03-27-2013, 04:44 PM	#10
Wolfeborough Diner Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 27 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Terry's Independent Heat does a great job they are located in Wolfeboro and the phone number is 603-455-1074. Best of luck!!!!