If you rely on heating oil to keep your home warm and generate hot water you are no doubt glad that you chose to do so. Right now, it is one of the cheapest ways to run a home heating system.
The fact that the global cost of crude oil has fallen drastically over the past few years means that running an oil-fired domestic boiler is currently cheaper than running a gas fired one. Unsurprisingly many people have realized this and have recently made the switch to oil. Our aim with this article is to help those new users to understand how to keep their new heating oil system in good working order.
Service your boiler regularly
Your boiler is the heart of the system, so you need to take care of it. You should have it serviced once a year.
This will keep it running efficiently, which will ensure that it does not burn more oil than it should. The fact you are using less oil and that your boiler is producing fewer pollutants is good for the environment.
Spotting signs of trouble early
In the winter, you should keep an eye on the boiler exhaust. If the smoke that is expelled when the boiler first starts up gets darker or starts to smell different, it is worth contacting your heating engineer. Sometimes these changes are an indication that the boiler is not working properly.
On a regular basis, you need to check the amount of oil you have left in the tank. This is because contaminants in the oil settle in the bottom of the tank. The best way to avoid this sludgy oil going through your boiler and potentially damaging it is not to use it. If you top your tank up before it gets too low, you can keep that poor quality oil out of your system.
Maintaining your tank
The other important component in the system is your home heating oil tank. You need to check it periodically for signs of leakage. The last thing you want to do is to accidently pollute your land or your neighbor’s. Spotting a leak early will help to reduce the amount of oil you lose and make it easier to clear up any spillage.
Every time you have a delivery go out there and make sure that the cap has been screwed down properly. Usually, the delivery person will have sealed the tank properly. However, in reality, everyone is human and things are missed, so it is always worth checking. If the cap is not on properly, water can get into the tank, which can then end up in your boiler. Should that happen you will be facing an expensive repair bill, or may even have to buy a new one.
The above is just an overview of what you need to do to keep your oil fired heating system working efficiently. For more, in-depth, information all you need to do is to click this link. When you do so, you will be taken to a 14-page document that explains how to carry out each individual maintenance task.
