How to Diagnose Oil Burner Noise, Smoke, Odors
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How to Diagnose Oil Burner Noise, Smoke, Odors
What Oil Fired Heating System Noises are Normal and What are the Noise Sources?
What oil fired heating system noises are abnormal and may indicate an operating problem or an unsafe condition?
What can we do to reduce heating system operating noises?
Diagnose & repair oil burner soot, puffback, rumbling, hard-starting
Cause & cure for heating boiler "snap, crackle, & popping" noises: antifreeze acidified & debris in the system: flush out needed
Oil burner noise: rattling oil burner motor sounds - "combustion ventilator"?
Flue gas exposure hazards, smells, odors
How to diagnose loss of heat, heating boiler noises, leaks, odors, or smoke
Troubleshooting heating boiler oil or gas burners & controls
How to inspect & repair central hot water heating boilers - hydronic heating
Questions & answers about how to diagnose and fix the causes of oil burner noises, smoke, soot, or odors & smells

Oil burner noise, odor, performance or smoke troubleshooting: Some oil burner noises are normal, others indicate trouble - we explain the difference. We explain how to recognize & diagnose the cause of oil fired heating boiler noises, leaks, odors, or soot and smoke. We describe just about any noise that you might hear at or near an oil burner, where it comes from, what it means, and what needs to be done about it.

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How to Diagnose Noises & Odors During Heating System & Oil Burner Operation

For a more broad list of noises traced to heating equipment, see HEATING SYSTEM NOISES or WATER HEATER NOISES. Articles at this website describe how to inspect residential heating systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects. This website answers most questions about central hot water heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs.

The articles at this website describe how to recognize common oil-fired heating appliance operating or safety defects, and how to save money on home heating costs. Also see CHIMNEY INSPECTION & REPAIR GUIDE for details of chimney inspection, diagnosis, and repair, including blocked chimney flues, chimney backdrafting, leaks, and odors from flues. Separately we discuss CARBON MONOXIDE hazards in buildings. Readers concerned with LP gas or natural gas combustion flue gas products and hazards should also see Natural Gas Combustion Products and also LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards.

What Oil Fired Heating System Noises are Normal and What are the Noise Sources?

Some heating system and heating oil burner noises are considered normal. These include noises coming from the following items:(The sketch is courtesy of Carson Dunlop. )

Electric motor noise: The electric motor which operates the oil unit and blower unit on the oil burner, or an electric motor which may operate a furnace blower fan or a flue-vent draft inducer fan. However some electric motor noises are "normal" while others indicate trouble, as we will elaborate below.
Combustion air fan noise: The combustion air blower, usually a squirrel cage fan on oil burners is spun by a shaft extending out of the oil burner's electric motor. The blower itself produces noise as it spins and moves air into the combustion chamber. Unless the oil burner blower is damaged you probably won't hear it over the other noises produced at the burner.
Warm air furnace blower noise: Furnace blower fan units: A bad furnace fan blower motor or assembly may produce noise you would indeed hear above the noises coming from the oil burner itself.
Heating oil pump noises: The oil burner's heating oil pump or "fuel unit" is usually driven by a shaft (and couplings) which begin at the electric motor on the oil burner, extend through the combustion air blower, and connect to a drive shaft protruding from the oil pump. Unless there is an internal problem with the pump, these units are pretty quiet compared with other normal oil burner noises. But a pump may whine, rattle, buzz, or make other funny noises when something is wrong. See OIL BURNER FUEL UNIT for details on diagnosing and fixing noisy troubleseome oil burner fuel unit pumps.
Draft inducer fan noises: A flue vent connector-mounted or chimney-mounted combustion gas vent draft inducer fan if one is used, is usually audible, and in a typical installation you'll hear this fan turn on up 15 seconds or so before the oil burner itself begins to operate.
Oil burner combustion noise: Oil burner flame or combustion noise is usually the loudest "normal" noise coming from an oil burner. The fuel unit pumps heating oil to 100 psi or higher, then sprays it through an oil burner nozzle where the oil is ignited by electrodes mounted in the oil burner's tube at the entry to the combustion chamber. The "roar" that you hear at a normally operating heating system oil burner is usually produced mostly by this combustion process.

Watch out: if you see soot or smoke or smell combustion gases, possibly accompanied by an increase in oil burner or heater noise, the system is not operating properly and may be unsafe. See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS
High speed oil burner noise compared with low speed oil burner noise: High speed oil burners noises: older traditional oil burners used on heating boilers and furnaces were driven by an electric motor spinning at 1725 rpm.

Modern "high speed" heating system oil burners usually run at 3450 rpm. The higher speed permits more air flow and greater oil burner efficiency. But in buildings where an older low-speed oil burner is swapped out for a new "high speed" oil burner unit, the occupants are often surprised to hear that the new equipment is noticeably noisier than the old unit. This is normal, and your heating installer would have been smart to tell you to expect this change so you don't think something's wrong with the new heating system. You're tolerating more noise for lower heating system operating costs.

George Lanthier (Fuel Oil News) reported on customer complaints about the increase in noise when new, more energy efficient but noisier oil burners are installed. In a 2006 article in that publication he offered several suggestions of which his first is that oil companies should "scare the dickens out of the customer" meaning that the vendor should prepare the client for an increase in heating system noise level.
- Oil burner mechanical noise: Break the noise levels down by area in the equipment: is the noise from the burner itself? He argues that the burner mechanical parts are pretty quiet (barring a bad bearing or motor-DF);
- Oil burner flame noise: draft conditions can affect flame noise, but Lanthier skirted the basic fact that doubling the burner speed along with concomitant higher oil and combustion chamber pressures increase noise levels. Careful selection of oil burner nozzle, flame retention head and head settings may reduce this noise a bit.
  - Switching to intermittent oil burner ignition (most residential burners run the igniter all during burner operation) may reduce burner flame noise and also reduce NOX emissions. A service tech can test for this benefit by installing a jumper to permit temporary turn-off of the ignition circuit once flame is established. (Appropriate safety controls must also be installed).
  - Hollow-cone oil burner nozzles may reduce flame noise. Indeed we (DF) recall from oil burner service days that changing the oil burner nozzle to a flame type and pattern that better matched the burner and combustion chamber could make a large difference in how the burner and flame behaved and sounded. We had good success at reducing rumbling noises at older oil burners by changing to a Monarch AR oil burner nozzle of the proper size. See OIL BURNER NOZZLE & ELECTRODES for details.
  - Measure the system standard heating tuneup parameters including smoke and CO₂ to verify that your adjustments have improved, not hurt, system performance. We often found better combustion efficiency using hollow-cone oil burner nozzles -DF.
Chimney noise: In Lanthier's opinion this is the most serious noise problem from heating systems. Certainly we'd agree that many chimneys act as sound amplifiers and transmitters through a building. But
Watch out for chimney fires: a roaring freight train sound that means a deadly dangerous fire is occurring (more likely with a wood-stove). More on chimneys is at Chimneys & Chimney Fires. Steps to reduce chimney noise, assuming we don't have a dangerous condition, include:
- Install a chimney liner (have this done by a professional, certified chimney service company) to reduce noise, condensation problems, and oversized flues that may create venting and even safety problems. See NFPA31-2001, National Fire Protection Association and read all of Appendix E, “Relining Masonry Chimneys” .
- Litman chimney elbow: Lanthier describes an idea from Roger Litman (North Shore Fuel) who adds an elbow at the end of a flue pipe run in the base of a chimney to reduce chimney noise. The elbow both reduced noise and improved chimney draft, perhaps because the elbow adds length and thus velocity to incoming chimney vent products. Add a drainage hole in the low point of the elbow, and "get the outlet of the elbow to angle about 15 degrees to the base".
Watch out: Too-Quiet Chimneys can mean big trouble: Lanthier explained that a blocked chimney flue can reduce heating system noise below normal levels, but of course a blocked chimney is dangerous, risking a fatal carbon monoxide poisoning condition as well as improper and unsafe heating boiler or furnace operation and damaging the burner itself (backpressure-burning off the burner end).

What oil fired heating system noises are abnormal and may indicate an operating problem or an unsafe condition?

Noises & soot buildup can lead to a potentially dangerous puffback which can damage the heating equipment and blow soot and smoke throughout the building. An experienced heating service technician may recognize the following diagnostic list of heating system or oil burner noises as well as perhaps other signs of trouble:

Chimney fires: WATCH OUT: DANGEROUS, IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: Very loud noise like a roaring freight train coming from a chimney is likely to be a chimney fire- extremely dangerous, risking a house fire: turn off heat as you run out of the house: call the fire department from your cell phone or from a neighbor's house.

A chimney fire moves fast, loud, and produces lots of smoke. In fact a quick look at the chimney serving a heater at any time can tell you how the heating system is operating. If the chimney top shows smoke or soot (without the freight train noise of a chimney fire) the burner is not operating properly.

Watch out: If you have a chimney fire (or any kind of fire) stop reading this Internet article, leave the building immediately, and call your fire department. See CHIMNEY INSPECTION & REPAIR GUIDE for details of chimney inspection, diagnosis, and repair, including blocked chimney flues, chimney backdrafting, leaks, and odors from flues. Separately we discuss CARBON MONOXIDE hazards in buildings.
Hums and clicks: can be a sign of an oil burner that has gone "off on safety" - the burner needs cleaning, adjustment, repair. Other hums may be traced to a failing control or control transformer. See this Hum FAQ and this Buzz FAQ below.
Noises during oil burner startup - a "bang" or puffback which blows soot into the room through the barometric damper or through other equipment openings: the oil pump may not be shutting down properly at the end of an oil burn cycle, leaking incompletely burned oil into the combustion chamber. That oil ignites at startup causing a potentially dangerous puffback. Immediate service and repair are needed.
Noises during oil burner startup - a "rumbling" sound (which usually continues all during operation" or a "stumbling" sound in the combustion chamber probably indicates that the system needs inspection and cleaning very soon. Some noise is normal however, but the normal sounds tend to be more smooth and continuous.
Noises during oil burner shut-down - a stumbling or rumbling after the oil burner motor has stopped, indicate that oil is continuing to leak into the combustion chamber and risks a dangerous puffback - see "Noises during oil burner startup" above. Immediate service is recommended.
Oil burner noises of shrieks or grinding coming from the electric motor or oil pump on the oil burner mean that immediate service is needed - probably a bearing is failing.
Furnace noises of shrieks, whining, or grinding coming from the electric motor or blower assembly of a furnace air handler probably mean that the system has a bad bearing (or fan belt) and prompt repair service is needed. It's best to shut down such a system since certain failures, such as sucking a furnace filter into the blower assembly, can lead to overheating and cause a fire.
Oil Burner Startup problems: noises and clues of puff back: if you see flapping at the barometric damper or if you see or hear vibrations in the system, prompt service is needed
Noises from radiators or heating baseboards: clanking pipes or sharp snapping noises may be heard as a normal consequence of expansion of metals during the heating cycle. These noises can often be eliminated or reduced by careful routing of piping and by allowing room around heating pipes for expansion, but probably not eliminated in the case of hot water baseboards.
- Bubbling or rumbling noises in hot water heating piping can be caused by air in the heating lines. If the amount of air becomes excessive the system may be unable to circulate hot water and extra steps to bleed unwanted air will be required.
- Hissing sounds such as air escaping from radiators or other piping where air bleeder valves are installed are normal but should be brief and uncommon. If you constantly hear air hissing from radiator bleed valves double check that you understand what kind of heat you have - hissing from bleeder valves on steam heat radiators as heat is coming up in the building is normal.
Noises from Oil Tanks or Oil Piping: Vibrations of the heating oil piping, especially if installed passing overhead along building framing and if installed without sound isolation can use the ceiling as a giant speaker and may be quite loud.
Noises from air leaks: on furnaces (hot air systems) we sometimes find that an air leak in the duct system or air handler, or quite often around the air filter itself, can make lots of noise.
Rattling noises at the oil burner: typically indicate a loose part or failing bearing. Also see this FAQ below.
Rumbling noises at the oil burner: may be normal, especially if the noise has not changed, and can often be reduced by choice of a different oil burner nozzle. But an increased rumbling noise can be a sign of burner, combustion chamber, or even chimney problems. See "Oil Burner Flame Noise" above. Also see this FAQ below.
Snap crackle pop noises: possibly traced to an antifreeze contamination problem. See this FAQ below.
Vibration and buzzing at oil burners: Common sources of vibration or sources of buzzing vibrating sounds in or close to an oil burner include:
- The oil burner electric drive motor bearings,
- the oil burner combustion air blower assembly bearings,
- inside the fuel unit or oil pump an out of balance internal part or more seriously, a failing fuel unit can produce vibrations that may be transmitted via oil piping (common)
- There is also usually a flexible rubber bushing (the coupling assembly) that connects the driving electric motor through the blower assembly to the fuel unit drive shaft. If that part is the problem you're in luck as it's a low-cost repair. (uncommon)
- oil burner assembly mounting bolts that are loose (uncommon)
- buzzing electrical components: on occasion a failing HVAC control will emit a buzzing sound, often traced to a faulty transformer or relay (common)

What can we do to reduce heating system operating noises?

Heating equipment located well out of occupied space, in an unoccupied basement, for example, are not usually a source of noise complaints in a building, though there are a few exceptions for which we have suggestions.

Consult your heating service technician first to be sure that the heating system is operating normally and safely, before attempting any other steps to reduce noises coming from the heating system.
How to cure vibrations of the heating oil piping or oil tank: re-route piping between the oil tank and the oil burner to remove any contact points with overhead ceiling framing or flooring; if those contact points are necessary to support the line, be sure that the oil line is supported with noise-suppressing fittings (we use foam rubber and copper pipe clamps) and that the piping is well secured.
How to cure warm air heating system air duct or filter noises see
- Loose or Leaky Air Conditioning or Heating Ducts
- Vibration Dampers & Asbestos at the Air Handler - make sure your vibration damper is properly installed, sized, and not leaky.
- Under-sized Return Air Ducts can cause excessive duct noise since inadequate return air means the system is "return-air starved" and will suck air into the duct system at any available (and noisy) opening.
- An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Air Filters on HVAC Systems includes discussion of air bypass leaks at air filters. Be sure to review this noise source as it's easy to correct.
Oil Burner Noise Insulation: some of our readers suggest building an insulated box around the oil burner to reduce its noise. Watch out! If you constrict or reduce the amount of combustion air available to the oil burner it will not operate properly and the system could become unsafe. Be sure to discuss the design of any noise insulation scheme and its possible effects on combustion air or other heating system considerations with your heating service technician.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about oil burner noises, smells, soot, diagnosis & repair

Question: Oil burner noise: Cause & cure for heating boiler "snap, crackle, & popping" noises: antifreeze acidified & debris in the system: flush out needed

This may not mean much in the grand scheme of things but I want to thank you for your site.

I am high in the Rockies and have had boiler issues the past year. My glycol had acidified and when the boiler was firing the “snap, crackle and popping” could be heard throughout the house so my plumber did a flush last winter.

All eight zones and the boiler were flushed through with a flush solution for several days, unfortunately they could not get the end caps off of the Teledyne boiler lines to brush out the heat exchanger of build up. In any event, I ended up finishing off the last winter with just fresh water in the system (did not add glycol after flushing, just removed the flush: lots of small particulate came out in the brown discharge) but I finished off the winter with heat in the house. Good thing, we had –30F temps at times.

Anyway, recently, rather than buy a new boiler, I had my guy do another flush, again two of the zones and the boiler did throw off particulate and they were dirty. Naturally, there was “green” in the discharge as I presume there was sloughing off of the inside wall of the copper lines that lead to the in floor heating tubes.

Anyway, we added glycol but man was I getting a banging still. So, with the help of your site I was able to figure out that the Proflo PFT12 expansion tank’s relationship to my Taco Hy-Vent air purge on top of the American Purge Valve and was able to see – as a layman – what was going on. I see that they are integral.

Now, I know to tap on the bottom of the expansion tank to make sure it’s not full to determine if if it’s bad. I also know how to use the Hy-vent to manually bleed off some air. I had a five second hiss yesterday and today only a two second hiss so I guess I am getting the air out.

Bottom line: your site showed the exact air purge and I was able to figure things out. Hopefully. Without your site I would be calling the plumber back all the time. Thanks for being there: no critique from me, just praise. regards, D.C., Breckenridge CO

Reply:

Thank you for the very nice note D.C. We work hard to make InspectAPedia's information useful and accurate, so I'm really grateful to hear that it was useful to you. And questions or content suggestions are very welcome as they help me see where we need to do more work.

About the boiler flush-out, I'm not surprised that after a flushout and then use for a heating season, a second flush would be helpful. But after that, if the chemistry is proper in the system with an antifreeze installation, you ought not to have to keep doing flush outs as the same physical dose of water remains in the system - you're not introducing new water, minerals, crud. I guess the trouble is when it's difficult to complete a thorough cleaning.

Thanks for the details - I'll add a version of these comments to our section on diagnosing boiler noises.

Question: Oil burner noise: What is causing a rumbling sound whenever the furnace kicks on

We had a furnace installed in December. Since then we have a rumbling whenever the furnace kicks on. The rumbling vibrates the entire house. The installers have been to the house three times and cannot locate the problem. They changed the flapper and added some vent work. The last time they came they thought we needed to change our oil tank. - Nancy Plummer

Reply: rumbling oil tank or rumbling oil burner?

I'm not sure how an oil tank would cause rumbling in an oil fired heating system, except indirectly: if the oil tank were badly contaminated with rust and sludge it could cause repeated oil burner nozzle clogging and improper oil burner operation. I'd ask the oil heat technician to be more specific about why they made that recommendation. [Incidentally oil burner noise does vary with the nozzle brand, size, and pattern.]

It is fair to say that some causes of bad oil burner operation can be difficult to track down and can be subtle. A temperature sensor used by the aquastat and improperly installed can, for example, lead to short on cycling and sooty operation that leads to rumbling and bad flame, or a defective or clogged chimney can also cause improper operation - the list is pretty long.

From your note I can't tell if the sound source is improper burner operation, improper blower operation on a furnace air handler, or a duct work problem.

It might help to give a call to your oil heat service company and speak with the service manager. Ask him or her to send an experienced senior technician to review the problem so that your system is not only quiet, but reliable and safe.

Rumbling sounds at the oil burner itself are often a flame adjustment or a less than optimum choice of oil burner nozzle, as we discuss in the article above.

Question: Oil burner noise: hums, clicks: Oil burner won't start - just hums and clicks

my home oil boil (Warm-Flow bluebird 50/70) i put oil in and bled the boiler it ran for 1hr and again for 1hr later last night and it seems to have started up as normal this morning for 20min on son and now it wont, it only makes a humming noise like an electric board and clicks off loudly i hit the red rest button and same thing happens. no fan noise or low grumble as norm.

Please help im so stuck ! - Clark NI

Reply: things to check

Clarke N

When an oil burner won't start in response to the reset button it needs service or repair. From your description I can't tell if it's a fuel delivery problem or a motor problem. If the electric motor that runs the burner is spinning and the burner makes a fairly loud noise (all parts are moving) but you're not getting ignition the system will indeed keep going off on reset and that may be a dirty nozzle, dirty electrodes, or even a clogged oil filter or out of oil completely.

If the electric motor itself is not spinning, just humming, the motor is binding or the fuel unit is binding and not letting the motor spin. Check that there is no red reset button popped out on the motor itself - if there is one, when the motor is cool, push it back in and retry. But if that's the trouble I suspect you need a new motor.

Let us know what the service tech finds - it will aid other readers.

Question: Oil burner noise: rattling oil burner motor sounds - "combustion ventilator"?

hi, we have a 9year old furnace, we had it inspected by an actual heating and cooling company when we moved in 2 years ago..he said the combustion ventilator motor is going(it rattles and hums) quite loud ,,,is it very dangerous to leave it for another year.... it freaks me out,.....will it explode, and or cause co poisoning...we have co detectors .....-katherine

Reply: things to check including the draft inducing blower assembly in the oil burner motor and its shaft and connectors

If by combustion ventilator motor you mean a motor that is used to induce a draft for the heater, I would replace it asap. The worry is that the motor may stop entirely and as luck will have it, at 2 AM on a holiday when you'll pay an arm and a leg to get the service tech out for an emergency no heat call.

The motor won't explode but if it stops working, either the heater will also stop working (depending on what safety controls are installed) or worse, it could keep working and produce dangerous CO gases - for which your detectors are a first line of defense but not a solution for safe operation.

Question: Oil Burner Noise: loud buzzing, vibrating sounds

i have a riello oil burner which makes a steady noise on and off when heating is on but all of a sudden the steady noise is much louder like a loud buzzing/vibrating noise...any ideas what it could be ? - Kerry

Reply: check these things:

Kerry,

Provided that you can rule out oil burner noise caused by a dirty or misadjusted flame and actual burner operation, there are several common sources of mechanical noises in oil burners too.

This is a good application for an inexpensive mechanic's stethoscope. That device includes on the sensing end a metal rod whose end you can touch to different parts of a motor or assembly to see where vibration is loudest.

Common sources of vibration or sources of buzzing vibrating sounds in or close to an oil burner include:

The oil burner electric drive motor bearings,
the oil burner combustion air blower assembly bearings,
inside the fuel unit or oil pump an out of balance internal part or more seriously, a failing fuel unit can produce vibrations that may be transmitted via oil piping (common)
There is also usually a flexible rubber bushing (the coupling assembly) that connects the driving electric motor through the blower assembly to the fuel unit drive shaft. If that part is the problem you're in luck as it's a low-cost repair. (uncommon)
oil burner assembly mounting bolts that are loose (uncommon)
buzzing electrical components: on occasion a failing HVAC control will emit a buzzing sound, often traced to a faulty transformer or relay (common)

Let us know what you find, what we learn will help others.

Question: The furnace runs fine for a few days then we smell a choking burning odor

still did not answer the question, after servicing my furnace, change fuel filter clean furnace out and vacuum out the furnace, clean exhaust chimney,change nozzle, and give a good cleaning it runs fine, then within a couple of days and odor starts,like a choking burning odor that burns the nose ,what would cause this and how can I remedy this problem with calling a tech? and paying a bunch of money! - Bradly

Reply: things to check

Bradly I cannot diagnose the problem you describe just from your description.

Any of several errors could cause the problem you describe: improperly installed nozzle (leaking), air leaks in the oil piping, improper draft setting, improper electrode setting, etc. As some readers like iamhvac suggested, a cracked heat exchanger could be a source of odors as well, but you'd think that condition would be noticeable even immediately after service.

Watch out: If your heating system is smoking and producing odors it needs to be diagnosed and repaired by a trained service tech - you're not looking at just a filter change. And depending on the case, and the fuel, the conditions could be quite dangerous. iamhvac suggested "bradley sounds like a cracked heat exchanger causing combustion smoke to mix with your house air. time for a new furnace. call a pro get a free estimate." In our OPINION you don't want to jump the gun on this - get an accurate diagnosis before making a costly repair or system replacement.

Question: Oil burner keeps stopping

hi, our Deauville oil boiler is approximately 4 years old. It keeps going out and takes a couple of goes to re-light. Several people have been to look and have replaced parts but it still goes out at least once a day. Any ideas please??? - Mike

Reply:

Mike I just don't have enough information to guess what's wrong. But as parts have been replaced and you still have the problem, it's time to ask to speak to the manager of your heating company service department. Politely let him know that you've had multiple service calls without success, and ask him to send out a more experienced service technician. Let us know what you're told - it will help other readers.

Question: I smell heating oil odors when oil burner is running - is that OK or normal?

I can smell oil when the burner is on. Is this OK? - Ian

Reply: No. But check for oil smells from the burner or from an oil leak or spill

Ian: if you smell heating oil when the burner is running there may be a leak or more likely the system is running dirty and out of adjustment, needing service. Just be sure you're not smelling an oil spill from a recent service.

Question: oil burner is producing black soot?

Just moved in to a rental and had to have oil delivered for heat. I just turned it on last night and woke up to the house being really foggy, I looked down stairs it didn't see any problems; however I blew my nose and it's nothing but black soot in my nose. It it because it's the first time coming on?? - Kim Haywood

Reply: proper oil burner servicing, cleaning, setup, and proper chimney draft are essential - don't blow soot into the home

Kim,

While it's not uncommon for a small burp of soot to blow out of the barometric damper when an oil burner first comes on at some heating equipment, a system that is putting enough soot into the air to enter your nose is not working properly and is potentially unsafe. A service call is needed to diagnose and fix the problem.

Question: I swapped in the burner on my oil heater - now I get more odors but less soot

I have a new boiler sitting in my garage but could not afford to have it installed. When the motor on my old one stopped working we swapped it out with the new gun. The old gun was covered in sludge at the nozzle and caused many a soot puffing out. After putting the new one in I noticed more odors but no soot. the boiler is in an enclosed area 3 foot by 6 foot - steve H.

Reply: proper oil burner setup is required

Steve, it sounds as if it's time to ask a trained oil heat service tech to take a look at the system. Your burner swap may have left an underlying problem still in place, and also, frankly it is not possible to accurately set up and tune an oil burner by eye. Special equipment is needed to measure draft, CO2, smoke, and temperature while making those settings.

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OIL BURNERS
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  Diagnostic Sequence
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  Indoor Clues - Oil Burner Trouble
  Outdoor Clues - Oil Burner Trouble
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  Trouble at the Oil Burner - Visual
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  FUEL UNIT, HEATING OIL PUMPS
  Oil Burner Smoke Test
  Oil Burner CO₂ Test
  OIL BURNER DELAY VALVE
OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING

Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
"Noise and Moisture, Using scare tactics” may be necessary when installing a new heating system", George Lanthier, Fuel Oil News, M2MEDIA360, 1030 W. Higgins Road Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068 847-720-5600 02/1/2006. According to Fuel Oil News, George Lanthier owns Firedragon Enterprises and is the author of nine books on oil heating and heating systems. He is a teaching consultant and expert witness on oil heating systems. He can be contacted at 132 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA 02474-2756. His phone number is (781) 646-2584 and he can be faxed at (781) 641-7099. He can also be contacted through his Web site at www.FiredragonEnt.com.
- Wiring & Oil Burning Equipment, George Lanthier
- The Cmr 4.00 Guide: a Detailed Guide to the Massachusetts Regulation on Oil burning Equipment, George Lanthier
- The hot water handbook: An advanced primer on domestic hot water, George Lanthier
Domestic Central Heating Wiring Systems and Controls, Second Edition, Raymond Ward

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ^® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.

Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
"Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
"Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
"Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)
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Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

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How to Diagnose Noises & Odors During Heating System & Oil Burner Operation

What Oil Fired Heating System Noises are Normal and What are the Noise Sources?

What oil fired heating system noises are abnormal and may indicate an operating problem or an unsafe condition?

What can we do to reduce heating system operating noises?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about oil burner noises, smells, soot, diagnosis & repair

Question: Oil burner noise: Cause & cure for heating boiler "snap, crackle, & popping" noises: antifreeze acidified & debris in the system: flush out needed

Reply:

Question: Oil burner noise: What is causing a rumbling sound whenever the furnace kicks on

Reply: rumbling oil tank or rumbling oil burner?

Question: Oil burner noise: hums, clicks: Oil burner won't start - just hums and clicks

Reply: things to check

Question: Oil burner noise: rattling oil burner motor sounds - "combustion ventilator"?

Reply: things to check including the draft inducing blower assembly in the oil burner motor and its shaft and connectors

Question: Oil Burner Noise: loud buzzing, vibrating sounds

Reply: check these things:

Question: The furnace runs fine for a few days then we smell a choking burning odor

Reply: things to check

Question: Oil burner keeps stopping

Reply:

Question: I smell heating oil odors when oil burner is running - is that OK or normal?

Reply: No. But check for oil smells from the burner or from an oil leak or spill

Question: oil burner is producing black soot?

Reply: proper oil burner servicing, cleaning, setup, and proper chimney draft are essential - don't blow soot into the home

Question: I swapped in the burner on my oil heater - now I get more odors but less soot

Reply: proper oil burner setup is required

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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair