5 Common Heating Oil Furnace Problems

5 Common Heating Oil Furnace Problems

You May Be Able to Find a Solution on Your Own

If you’ve already taken care of getting your heating oil furnace checked and serviced for the cold weather, it will more than likely perform without a hitch this season. But regular heating maintenance is not a guarantee that you will never face a problem with your heating oil furnace.

The good news is that sometimes you may be able to find the solution yourself and save yourself a service call if the problem is a simple one. If it’s not so simple, your best bet is to reach out for help from a heating oil service provider. The last thing you want to do is try to make a repair on your own. You may end up causing an even bigger, more expensive problem with your furnace.

Before we begin with diagnosing problems, here’s a brief explanation of how a heating oil furnace works. Getting to know your furnace better makes you more informed if a heating problem arises during winter.

How a Heating Oil Furnace Works

Because it generates heated air, a furnace is also known as a forced-air or warm-air system. Here is how it produces heat.

  • The thermostat sends a signal to the controls on the oil burner.
  • The fuel pump draws oil through a filter to the burner.
  • The burner turns the oil into a fine spray, mixes it with air and ignites it in the combustion chamber, causing the chamber to become very hot.
  • Air absorbs heat in the heat exchanger.
  • A blower sends this air through ducts and exits through vents or registers to heat the home.
  • The air eventually circulates back to the heat exchanger and the cycle continues.
  • Combustion emissions are vented out the flue.

Problem # 1: No Power

If your heat stops working and you’ve confirmed that there isn’t a power outage in your community, your next step should be to check for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse. You should also check to see if the power switches to your furnace have been accidentally turned off.

If you find that the power switches for your furnace have been turned off by mistake, simply turn the electrical switches back to the “on” position and your problem may be solved.

If your power switches are not the problem, next check your circuit breaker box to see if all circuit switches are still in the “on” position. Flipping the proper switch to the “on” position again may be all you need to get your system running again.

However, please keep this in mind: a circuit breaker rarely ever trips for no reason. If this happens once and never happens again, it may be just a fluke. But if this happens more than once, contact a heating oil service professional, as this could mean a serious problem.

Problem #2: Malfunctioning Thermostat

Instances of a furnace not working can also be traced to the thermostat, whose signal to your heating oil furnace to turn on may be interrupted if the wiring of the thermostat has begun to deteriorate. A build-up of dust inside your thermostat is another common reason why your thermostat is not operating correctly. Another thing to look for are weak batteries in the thermostat.

Problem #3: Wrong Thermostat Setting

Make sure your thermostat is set to at least five degrees higher than your current room temperature so the furnace gets the message that your home needs more heat. In most cases, you’ll also want to make sure the fan is set to “auto” instead of “on.” Here’s why. Once your furnace gets to the room temperature you want, it will shut off and stop producing warm air. If the fan is set to “on,” the furnace will continue to blow air—but it will not be warm. You can fix this by switching the setting to “auto.”

The main benefit of setting the thermostat to “auto” is your energy usage and costs will be less. You will also stop cool air coming out of your vents.

However, if indoor air quality is an issue for someone in your household, choosing the “on” setting instead may be a trade-off you’re willing to make. By leaving the setting to “on,” you will ensure continuous circulation and filtration of your indoor air, which will help anyone in your home who suffers from a respiratory ailment. Experts say you will also be able to keep a more efficient distribution of heat inside your rooms.

Problem #4: Clogged Air Filter

You’ll probably need to change or clean the air filter in the furnace at least once during the heating season. A dirty filter lowers heating efficiency and if the filter gets badly clogged, it can cause your furnace to shut down. This is a built-in safety measure to prevent your furnace from overheating and causing damage.

To check the filter, turn off the furnace first and then remove the filter. Hold it up to the light. If no light shines through, the filter needs to be replaced with a new one, or in some cases, cleaned and then returned to the furnace. You can also use your sense of smell to detect a dirty filter. If you notice a dusty/dirty odor coming from your heating vents when the furnace is blowing hot air, this often indicates that the filter needs to be changed or cleaned.

Problem #5: No Heating Oil

If you call to order your fuel, make sure to check your heating oil tank on a regular basis, especially in the middle of a cold snap. You should not let your storage tank fall below the ¼ mark. To prevent runouts, find out if your heating oil company offers automatic delivery service, which is designed to prevent runouts.

If you think your furnace is wearing out, research your replacement options and then reach out to your Wisconsin heating oil service company for advice.