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Soot

oldtrail
oldtrail Member Posts: 7
in Oil Heating

I cleaned my oil burner last year. Checking now there is a fair amount of soot on the top of chamber plus in the vent pipes. Spray nozzle looks clean. Suggestions.

Comments

  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 698

    Get a pro to check the important parameters and set the air ratio correctly with a combustion analyzer. This isn't something you can do yourself.

    jringel
  • oldtrail
    oldtrail Member Posts: 7

    Thanks, I have a guy coming tomorrow and will mention this.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,378

    This is a case of the last guy that did the adjustments was unfamiliar with the proper way to set up an oil burner.  Just about every oil burner manufactured within the last 50 years has the ability to burn with a Zero Smoke Spot test.   That means the oil burner does not make soot.   If you have soot within one year of operation, then don't get the same guy to set the burner up this year.  You need a Qualified oil burner mechanic

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • oldtrail
    oldtrail Member Posts: 7

    This guy is the first one to check it.

  • oldtrail
    oldtrail Member Posts: 7

    Question, trying to research information before my tech comes today, could one say it's simply a balance of air and fuel mixture during burning time?. If so can you say maybe by regulation of fuel pressure and damper control?.

  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 698
    edited December 5
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1824823#Comment_1824823

    Not necessarily. It can be caused by poor mixing of fuel and air even if the air/fuel ratio is correct. Poor mixing can be caused by incorrect setup like incorrect insertion depth, Z dimension, and over-fire draft. Even a minor variation from the spec Z-dimension can cause sooting.

    For your background, here's a previous thread in which many (maybe even all!) possible reasons for sooting are discussed.

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/194918/burnham-oil-burner-creating-tons-of-soot/p1

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,330
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1824823#Comment_1824823

    No. Don't fix it before the tech gets there.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,378
    edited December 6
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1824737#Comment_1824737

    When you say "This Guy" are you talking about the tech that is schedueld to come?

    Who turned the boiler on after it was installed? that is the guy that should have adjusted the Air/Oil mixture and verified all the adjustments. They need combustion testing equipment to make the proper adjustments. If you are going to DIY this stuff, you need to take a class in combustion theory the focuses on oil heat. You will also need to purchase about $1,200.00 in testing equipment. Otherwise you will just get it wrong and waste fuel, make soot and maybe even end up on the local news after the fire department finishes with you. Hope you survive the FD visit.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • oldtrail
    oldtrail Member Posts: 7

    No attempt in repair, just asking. This " guy" is the tech, not me.

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