New to the Trade...

jaybyrdslim

HI, I'm new to the Oil Heat industry and this web site. I just started a new job with a local oil company and I've been doing clean-outs for the past two weeks. It seems like they are cutting a lot of corners with the clean outs. All we do is brush and vac the heat exchanger, replace the oil pump gasket, brush off the filter screen, replace the nozzle and replace the tank filter. Then we do a combustion test (This part bothers me the most). If the numbers don't come out the way they want them...they fudge them by putting something else on the slip. For example...We do a clean out and check the draft over fire and get no reading on the scale...we then check the draft at the breech and it registers as -.o2 wc. Instead of trying to fix this problem they say 'it's been running good all year, put down -.o2 over fire and -.o4 for the breech.

I'm having a problem with this. I'm moraly apposed to leaving something like that. Not only is it against code, but it can be very dangerous. I'm not sure if I should say something or just ride it out until I can find something better, or if I should tell somebody about what's going on. Doe's anyone have any advise for a newbie like myself?

Oh, I also wanted to say that this website is great and I'm now an Oil Heat Dork.

Thanks,
Jaybyrdslim

lchmb

look in the mirror

I would have to go by my own gut on this one. I could not do that and look at myself in the mirror. Is the person instructing you a supervisor? Do you have one or someone you can turn to? Are you working in a one man company?

jaybyrdslim

It's more like a five man company. It's a very small company that's only been in buisness for a couple of years. The person training me is another employee...not a supervisor, but he's been with the company a year and was told to teach me the clean outs they way he was taught...

Leo

Ask questions, get along and when you get out on your own do it right. THEN, when they start complaining about YOU all they can say is you're too fussy, to me not a bad thing. At the moment you are too new to have an opinion, at least that's what they will say. One more thing take the best from each person you work with then develop your own style.

Good Luck,
Leo

[Deleted User]

there is slso a possibility that the draft meter you are using is not reading accurately... try another one if you can. I once had one that would never read more than .01

Rich P.

Draft

> HI, I'm new to the Oil Heat industry and this web

> site. I just started a new job with a local oil

> company and I've been doing clean-outs for the

> past two weeks. It seems like they are cutting a

> lot of corners with the clean outs. All we do is

> brush and vac the heat exchanger, replace the oil

> pump gasket, brush off the filter screen, replace

> the nozzle and replace the tank filter. Then we

> do a combustion test (This part bothers me the

> most). If the numbers don't come out the way

> they want them...they fudge them by putting

> something else on the slip. For example...We do

> a clean out and check the draft over fire and get

> no reading on the scale...we then check the draft

> at the breech and it registers as -.o2 wc.

> Instead of trying to fix this problem they say

> 'it's been running good all year, put down -.o2

> over fire and -.o4 for the breech.

>

> I'm having

> a problem with this. I'm moraly apposed to

> leaving something like that. Not only is it

> against code, but it can be very dangerous. I'm

> not sure if I should say something or just ride

> it out until I can find something better, or if I

> should tell somebody about what's going on.

> Doe's anyone have any advise for a newbie like

> myself?

>

> Oh, I also wanted to say that this

> website is great and I'm now an Oil Heat Dork.

> Thanks, Jaybyrdslim



Welcome Jay

Rich P.

Welcome

Hi Jaybyrdslim:
welcome to the fun world of oilheat!
The problems you mention are common long time troubles.
Follow your instinct. Gather information, talk to old timers, talk to anyone but always remember everyone may not
be as concerned of the welfare of your customer. Your name and reputation rides on all the equipment you service!
Oh and hang in there this job stinks sometimes, but it is a solid career, and if your good you will always be in demand(just takes time and experience)
Draft readings in this weather is tricky, outside air temp 92* and indoor temps can be cooler, 80* or less
not exactly perfect conditions for natural draft.
Winter time its cold outside and warm inside- nice- natural draft. george Lanthier writes many extended articles on this very subject.
So it is hard to get perfect conditions in
August, so what do you do? Do the very best you can, You really don't want to run the heat, Mrs. Homeowner won't want you to comeback next year. You dont want to do all the PM's in september you would be way overworked.
Don't forget about that oil line either very important!
Blow back and flush, cause it could be partially clogged.
I'm rambling now sorry
Good Luck, keep smiling
Rich P.

Steamhead (in transit)

Jaybyrdslim, welcome to The Wall

if you haven't already, go to our friend George "Firedragon" Lanthier's site- www.firedragonent.com - and order his book "Combustion and Oil Burning Equipment". It's one of the best I've seen on the subject. Read what he says about setting up burners in the summer, then do it that way and you'll never have a plugged boiler again from that cause. Firedragon also has a discussion board that looks different but serves the same purpose as The Wall.

Then try to find two out-of-print books: "Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners" by Charles Burkhardt, and "Audel's Oil Burner Guide" from the 1940s or 1950s by Frank Graham. There is a lot in these two books that still holds true today. You can usually find these and other out-of-print gems on www.abebooks.com .

Another site you'll want to check out is Oil Tech Talk, www.oiltechtalk.com which is run by another of our friends, Alan Mercurio. Here you will find a section called Just for Teks which has a lot of information on older burners, as well as a discussion board.

Many of those who frequent The Wall also frequent Alan's and George's boards too. See you there!

Big Ed

Good Advice

Leo is giving you some good advice.... You are learning service and 50% (or better) of service is dealing with people..


Lesson #12 under Chapter Three........Bashing a fellow worker will make you and the company look bad. Keep your mouth shut fix the problem and move on...



Good Luck

Firedragon_4

Great advice all around

Steamhead and I just want to add one more book to that list. Pick up a copy of the NORA OTM that can be found here: https://www.norastore.org/online_shop.cfm#c20

For $30.00 it can serve as a resource and has a procedure for doing an annual service.

Regretfully, Misters Graham and Burkhardt wrote books during the 'golden age' of oil when quality was more important than quantity and so their versions will now be called utopian. But, if you take all of the service procedures you can find and stick to your guns you'll find one that works for you and your employer as Leo said.

Please don't give up your work ethic, it's too hard to find today. You will probably switch companies, but check the next one out by talking to management and employees.

If I can be of any service to you please don't hesitate to contact me, my e-mail address is FiredragonEnt@comcast.net.

Thanks Frank for the plug,
George Lanthier aka Firedragon

George Peteya_2

You'll get there ...

... and you'll know it when the Customers start asking for you by name for their annual maintenance. The more expensive fueloil gets, the more important the quality of your service becomes.

John Jr

Location

Where are you from? Might be in the market for a good person. I like your attitude!

Alan R. Mercurio_3

Jay, Welcome to the heating industry my friend. If I can ever be of any help to you please don't hesitate to give me a shout.

Your friend in the industry,
Alan R. Mercurio

www.oiltechtalk.com

jaybyrdslim

Thanks!

Thanks for all the great advice guys! I'll look up those books your talking about, and I'll check to see if that draft meter is working correctly.

Oh, John Jr., I'm from Milford, MA. Drop me an e-mail at jaybyrdslim@hotmail.com if you're interested. I have a background in customer service so dealing with them is more of a pleasure than an aggravation.

Thanks again for all the great advice. I appreciate it tremendously....

Jaybyrdslim

Joe@buderus_2

Suggestion

Get phone numbers of different manufactures and call them if any questions. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
The above posts have good advice and the people mentioned are top notch. Here are some phone numbers that may be of use: Buderus 1-800-BUDERUS (1-800-283-3787), Beckett 1-800-645-2876, Carlin 1-800-989-2275, Riello (Canada) 1-800-474-3556, Burnham Boiler 717-397-4701, Weil Mclain - 219-879-6561, Fields Controls 1-800-742-8368. Welcome to the field, good luck and you won't know if you don't ask.

P.S. You don't know if you don't test

MikeR_3

careful, Jaybyrdslim...

I am also located in Mass., and I would NEVER put my name and license number on an efficiency slip with falsified information. Remember, the license is in YOUR name, not your employer's. If I were in your shoes, I would approach management and express my concern. If he insist on this behavior, then I wouldn't make too many waves, (you are just starting out), but I would immediately begin looking for another employer.