Adams/Dornback Oil 90%+

Constantin

... is what I gathered at OilTechTalk. Condensing heating appliances are going to be trouble until the sulfur levels are dropped in the fuel oil.

Unfortunately, the US oil industry no longer seems interested in defending its home heating market share... otherwise, they would have lowered the sulfur levels voluntarily a long time ago.

Now, is a condensing oil boiler really worth the trouble? That's a debate for a separate thread. Granted, you only reap something like 9 vs. 14% more energy in the form of latent heat, but a 9% improvement is better than nothing.

However, the real benefit of a true condensing design is the possibility of adding modulation to finally allow the creation of a low mass oil-fired boiler... The FCX is a step in that direction by being relatively low-mass, however, their current series HX-design does not allow for a two-stage burner, AFAIK. On the other hand, if you could design the thing to accept a two-stage/modulating burner by always keeping the primary HX above condensing temps...

Tundra

Does anyone have any experience with the Dornback or Adams Forced Air 90%+ in oil. I am getting ready to quote my first one but i would rather find out any problemd now rather than in the middle of January. Thanks.

Jon_10

Dornback 90%+ oil, forced air

Installed six of them, would I sell and service another, I doubt it. The homeowner must understand they need cleaning at least before each heating season and preferably also in the middle of it. Two of them, the home owners called me every year to clean and service them. They required a good cleaning before the heating season and once during it. Expect to spend a min. of 4 hours doing it. The primary and secondary heat exchanger must be cleaned spotless. You have to replace the secondary heat exchanger gasket every time. Keep a couple of draft inducer motors and at least 3 or 4 fan blades on hand for they fail constantly. The two that I serviced twice a year ran for 12 years before they were replaced with nat. gas furnaces. You can not set these units up by guess and by golly, they have to be tuned with a combustion anaylzer, period...
The other four did not last for beans. When I installed all six of them, I had the homeowners sign a statement informing them in order to keep the furnace running they must be cleaned and serviced every year and all four said no problem. They ignored that and refused to get them serviced every year even tho I called them to offer service. After 3 years I quit calling them. I got all sorts of grief when they finally quit working, one at 4 1/2 years and the other three at 5 years. I sent them copies of the statement they signed when I installed them and the dates I called them to offer service and who refused the service.
They are a pain in the --- and if you value your sanity stay away from them for you will get nothing but grief from them.

Jon_10

Dornback 90%+ oil, forced air

Installed six of them, would I sell and service another, I doubt it. The homeowner must understand they need cleaning at least before each heating season and preferably also in the middle of it. Two of them, the home owners called me every year to clean and service them. They required a good cleaning before the heating season and once during it. Expect to spend a min. of 4 hours doing it. The primary and secondary heat exchanger must be cleaned spotless. You have to replace the secondary heat exchanger gasket every time. Keep a couple of draft inducer motors and at least 3 or 4 fan blades on hand for they fail constantly. The two that I serviced twice a year ran for 12 years before they were replaced with nat. gas furnaces. You can not set these units up by guess and by golly, they have to be tuned with a combustion anaylzer, period...
The other four did not last for beans. When I installed all six of them, I had the homeowners sign a statement informing them in order to keep the furnace running they must be cleaned and serviced every year and all four said no problem. Four of them ignored that and refused to get them serviced every year even tho I called them to offer service. After 3 years I quit calling them. I got all sorts of grief when they finally quit working, one at 4 1/2 years and the other three at 5 years. I sent them copies of the statement they signed when I installed them and the dates I called them to offer service and who refused the service.
They are a pain in the --- and if you value your sanity stay away from them for you will get nothing but grief from them.

Jon_10

Dornback 90%+ oil, forced air

Installed six of them, would I sell and service another, I doubt it. The homeowner must understand they need cleaning at least before each heating season and preferably also in the middle of it. Two of them, the home owners called me every year to clean and service them. They required a good cleaning before the heating season and once during it. Expect to spend a min. of 4 hours doing it. The primary and secondary heat exchanger must be cleaned spotless. You have to replace the secondary heat exchanger gasket every time. Keep a couple of draft inducer motors and at least 3 or 4 fan blades on hand for they fail constantly. The two that I serviced twice a year ran for 12 years before they were replaced with nat. gas furnaces. You can not set these units up by guess and by golly, they have to be tuned with a combustion anaylzer, period...
The other four did not last for beans. When I installed all six of them, I had the homeowners sign a statement informing them in order to keep the furnace running they must be cleaned and serviced every year and all six said no problem. Four of them ignored that and refused to get them serviced every year even tho I called them to offer service. After 3 years I quit calling them. I got all sorts of grief when they finally quit working, one at 4 1/2 years and the other three at 5 years. I sent them copies of the statement they signed when I installed them and the dates I called them to offer service and who refused the service.
They are a pain in the --- and if you value your sanity stay away from them for you will get nothing but grief from them.

Glen

latent heat

above post not withstanding (regardless of manufacturer) is the amount of latent heat available in an oil fired appliance worth the added cost of semi annual maintenance?

Mt. Falls Mikey

I believe Jon when he says

that these furnaces are j_nk. I installed several new ones years ago,and have serviced more than a few. Consumers fail to understand the service aspect of things. Dornbacks,and several others are difficult to access and service properly

Tundra

Thanks, you saved my bacon.