Effective Oil Furnace Troubleshooting
Before you call a service professional to perform oil furnace troubleshooting, there are a number of simple things you can do. The most important thing you must remember is that the safety of you, your home and loved ones should be your first priority, and you should never attempt any testing or troubleshooting steps that are not approved, or could pose a serious threat. You should consult with your owner's manual or furnace operating guide before you begin.
Above all if you smell smoke or fuel, stop immediately and call your fire department, and do not turn on any lights, strike a match or do anything that could ignite leaking fuel or start a fire. You may always want to gather your family and leave your home until the fire department has inspected your furnace. If you hear noise, rattling or grinding, you should perform a visual inspection of your furnace for loose aluminum panels, covers or other metal objects that are interfering with the normal operation of your furnace or heating system. Another common safety practice in oil furnace troubleshooting is turning off the power to your furnace before you begin inspecting your furnace. Moving parts or belts can easily hurt you, tangle your body or clothing within the moving parts and cause serious injury. While you are inspecting your furnace keep insulation essentials in mind as you might very well spot something that can be changed to make your heating more energy efficient.
If you have a service contract or labor contract for the maintenance or care of your furnace, you might consider calling your service company first. After all you have paid for this service and you should take advantage of it before you perform any oil furnace troubleshooting steps yourself. Many companies such as Rheem, offer emergency services when it comes to your furnace. As part of their warranty or maintenance contract they often state that anyone, including yourself, which make repairs or tamper with your furnace, could void your warranty or contract. So before you touch anything make sure you know what is covered in your warranty and any possible limitation or requirements that are part of your coverage. If you need to replace a furnace it might be worth looking at an outdoor wood furnace as their operating costs are much lower than normal fossil fuel furnaces.
Sensitive or older furnaces could act up or stop working correctly from the simplest issues, such as blown fuses or tripped breakers. Poor heating or weak air flow can result from blocked or clogged filters, or maladjustment of your thermostat. As a standard step in oil furnace troubleshooting it would be a good idea to make sure these common issues are not the cause of your problems before you call a service professional.
