How Do Fuel Oil Systems Work?
For homeowners who are new to heating oil, it can seem unfamiliar and confusing. Knowing how your fuel oil system works will help you understand this type of system better and it will also help you experience the advantages that oil heat has to offer.
For all fuel oil systems, heating oil is stored in large tanks. They can be either indoor tanks or outdoor tanks. Generally, when it comes to fuel oil, it is either used in a furnace or in a boiler setting. These types of systems are very different.
Furnaces
There are two types of furnaces. The first is known as an atmospheric furnace. This model tends to be older and they are not as efficient as their more modern counterparts. They are named after the venting system that they have. Their gases go up through system of chimneys. It should be noted that with these types of systems, the air that they exhaust has to be very hot in order for the proper amount of ventilation to take place. These systems lost thirty percent of their fuel energy in their ventilation process which is why they are not very energy efficient.
Modern furnaces are condensing models. These models vent less heat outdoors. They do not have the necessity of venting hot exhaust. These systems cool the gases. The water vapor and exhaust are released through a system of plastic pipes.
Boilers
Boilers are used in oil heat settings as well. While furnaces heat air in order to heat up a home, boilers heat up water to heat up a home. After the water is heater, it travels through system of pipes and heats a home through either baseboards or radiators. Cooled water then travels back to the boiler for the purpose of being reheated. Some homes use steam boilers but they are less common. With these systems, the water boils and then the steam moves through the system and to the radiators. It then condenses. These types of boilers are vented through a chimney or possibly a sidewall.
Oil Heat
Regardless of whether your home has a boiler or a furnace, both systems have a combustion chamber. This is where the oil is ignited. The heat exchanger then heats gases or water for the sake of warming up a home. Boilers have pumps to move the water to the radiators. Furnaces use a fan to suck cold air through the return ducts. The cold air travels to the heat exchanger to be heated.
Oil System Maintenance
It is important to maintain your system. This goes for both furnaces and boilers. Make sure you keep an awareness by noticing soot or unhealthy looking chimney smoke. Unhealthy smoke is black and indicates that you system is burning more fuel than normal which leads to decreased energy efficiency. Be sure to schedule a tune-up on an annual basis. Preferably, schedule one in the early fall before the cold settles in.
For all fuel oil systems, heating oil is stored in large tanks. They can be either indoor tanks or outdoor tanks. Generally, when it comes to fuel oil, it is either used in a furnace or in a boiler setting. These types of systems are very different.
Furnaces
There are two types of furnaces. The first is known as an atmospheric furnace. This model tends to be older and they are not as efficient as their more modern counterparts. They are named after the venting system that they have. Their gases go up through system of chimneys. It should be noted that with these types of systems, the air that they exhaust has to be very hot in order for the proper amount of ventilation to take place. These systems lost thirty percent of their fuel energy in their ventilation process which is why they are not very energy efficient.
Modern furnaces are condensing models. These models vent less heat outdoors. They do not have the necessity of venting hot exhaust. These systems cool the gases. The water vapor and exhaust are released through a system of plastic pipes.
Boilers
Boilers are used in oil heat settings as well. While furnaces heat air in order to heat up a home, boilers heat up water to heat up a home. After the water is heater, it travels through system of pipes and heats a home through either baseboards or radiators. Cooled water then travels back to the boiler for the purpose of being reheated. Some homes use steam boilers but they are less common. With these systems, the water boils and then the steam moves through the system and to the radiators. It then condenses. These types of boilers are vented through a chimney or possibly a sidewall.
Oil Heat
Regardless of whether your home has a boiler or a furnace, both systems have a combustion chamber. This is where the oil is ignited. The heat exchanger then heats gases or water for the sake of warming up a home. Boilers have pumps to move the water to the radiators. Furnaces use a fan to suck cold air through the return ducts. The cold air travels to the heat exchanger to be heated.
Oil System Maintenance
It is important to maintain your system. This goes for both furnaces and boilers. Make sure you keep an awareness by noticing soot or unhealthy looking chimney smoke. Unhealthy smoke is black and indicates that you system is burning more fuel than normal which leads to decreased energy efficiency. Be sure to schedule a tune-up on an annual basis. Preferably, schedule one in the early fall before the cold settles in.