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Photograph of oil burner pointing to the transformer used for ignition (C) Daniel Friedman Index to Oil Burner Noises & Sounds
List of noises at the oil burner

Diagnostic questions and answers help diagnose heating oil burner noise, smoke, and odors. How to diagnose loss of heat, heating boiler noises, leaks, odors, or smoke.

These questions and answers can help you diagnose and fix heating oil burner noise or sound complaints.

This article series describes the cause and cure for 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.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Index to Noises & Odors During Oil Burner Operation

Oil burner schematic (C) Carson Dunlop AssociatesThis index to oil burner noise diagnosis and repair articles was developed from questions and answers posted originally at OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home. Be sure to review that article too.

[Click to enlarge any image] Sketch at left provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company [ carsondunlop.com ].

Index to Oil Burner Noises

Oil Burner Start or Stop Noise Question: oil burner Whoomph noise & smoke at startup or shutdown

I changed the oil burner nozzle, now it smokes when firing; Our oil fired furnace is smoking - do I need a repair?

Oil burner making a rumbling noise at shutdown; Riello F3 oil burner is producing black smoke out of the chimney at startup

Whoomph sound at oil burner startup

I just changed nozzle on my furnace. I "snugged it" as instructed by tech at plumbing supply house, used metal gage to properly gap electrodes, reinstalled all and it appears to be running fine, except that a small amount of smoke is coming from the barometric damper every time the unit is in firing mode. Suggestions? - Jim 1/14/12

Just finished a boiler rebuild and heating system recommissioned and working fine. When the furnace starts the start up noise is different from the previous noise. The only way I can describe it is that the noise is more of a whoomph which stutters 3-4 times. Could that be too little air supply?

I have not had the flue gases checked yet, can't get a technician with a test gauge for a few weeks yet. Any ideas? - Ian 2/11/12

My oil burner, Riello F3, fairly new, produces black smoke out the chimney on startup. It was tuned up when it was installed.

However, I just noticed that the Air settings and the turbulator setting is far off from that recommended in the boiler manual for that burner and nozzle. What causes the black smoke? Is it normal? - J.L. 10/1/12

I have rumble noise on oil burner shutdown, starts and runs fine - Dennis 11/28/12

Our oil furnace is smoking do I need a repair man out to the house? - Kim 11/30/12

Reply: things to check when the oil burner smokes or is noisy at startup or shutdown

J.L., Ian , Dennis & Kim:

Watch out: if you're hearing an explosion noise or a loud WHOOMPH noise I suspect that there is a smoky oil burner that is headed for a very messy and potentially dangerous puffback.

I suggest calling our heating service company, discuss with them what you are seeing, and schedule a service call accordingly.

See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

Jim:

The air suppy may not be adjusted properly;

Also, if you over-tightened the oil burner nozzle onto its mounting head you may have stripped threads between those parts. I did that (only once) and had a heck of a time figuring out what was wrong.

When you strip threads at the nozzle (typically steel, mounting in a brass nozzle line adapter) the result is oil at 100-140 psi spraying out around the leaky mount when the oil burner is running, and smoky burner operation;

if you see that problem (try starting the system briefly with ignition off so you can look for oil spray) you will have to replace the nozzle line adapter as well as nozzle.

Ian and Dennis,

Try installing a quick stop valve at the oil burner. Search inspectApedia for OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVE to read details.

A quick stop valve makes sure that the oil supply stops cleanly when it should, which often will cure the rumbling noise you describe.

If you do not fix the problem the risk is an accumulation of unburned oil in the combustion chamber (left at shutdown) that is ignited at start-up, leading to our next warning:

Question: how can I quiet down my noisy oil burner assembly?

I have a WeilMcClain Oil burning with current specs: 77.5% efficience 8% CO2 Cleaned and tuned every season I can only guess the burner is approximately 20 years old +-

My concern is the increased roaring sound during burn ( The burner is used for heating only). In past years I've heard the burner run quite a bit quieter and, in fact, my tech whom I've had visit twice says everything is fine.

The smell of oil is noticeable whenever I turn up the thermostat. I am sure both the roar from the burner along with the specs can be improved ( you've heard that before from a layman).

What questions would you recommend I ask the tech and/or is it time to look for a new burner and serviceman? Safety concerns are firsthand every time I fire up the burner. Thanks-M., Gloucester MA. 1/13/2013

Reply:

Ask the heating service tech to give an opinion about the cause and meaning of the noise you hear.

Some noises may be due to improper and even unsafe burner operation such as a dirty system, dirty heating system, misadjusted oil burner, simply the choice of nozzle type, loose parts that are likely to lead to a heating system failure, some other operating defect we've not listed,

Watch out: or in most extreme case, chimney fire (an immediate hazard in which case you should leave the building, turning off heat if you can safely do so, and call the fire department) .

The fact that you smell heating oil suggests that the heating system is not working properly; there are several ......

Even in the case of an oil burner that is properly cleaned, tuned, and adjusted, choice of settings (for example oil line pressure) and oil burner nozzle type can cause changes in the sound of the burner.

Also as a rule, newer high-speed (3450 rpm) oil burners are more noisy (and more efficient) than older low-speed (1725 rpm) oil burner assemblies. In some cases the service technician might try a different oil burner nozzle (such as the Monarch AR for "anti rumble") to see if that helps with noise reduction.

In sum I agree with your priorities:

  1. safety first
  2. proper and efficient operation second
  3. convenience and quietude third

For a system that is operating safely and properly but for which noise remains a problem I'd look at

  1. Noise and sound control measures such as identifying sources of noise transmission in to the building (e.g. an oil line secured to the underside of floor joists)
  2. Noise & sound insulation: by providing an outdoor combustion air supply often it's possible to close off a boiler room and even to provide fire-proof sound insulation on its walls and ceiling.

Question: oil burner noisy after an oil delivery

(Jan 31, 2018) Barry said:

Just had our tank filled and now making noise that it didn't before,

Reply:

(Jan 31, 2018) (mod) said:
Barry

There could be a burner operating problem if your oil tank was nearly empty and contained water or sludge that were stirred up by the oil delivery.

See if the noise is coming from the oil burner and look for soot, smoke, rumbling - if so, call your heating service company.

The system could need an oil filter and nozzle changeout.

...


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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-11-15 - by (mod) -

Teri

It is possible that I am not understood your question correctly, but in general it's normal for a burner to turn off and back on more than once during a heating cycle on a hot water or boiler heating system.

That's because often the burner can put heat into the boiler fast enough that it gets ahead of the heat transfer from radiators or baseboards into the home.

On 2020-11-13 by Teri

I have a Rheem furnace with a Beckett Gun/Burner assembly. What would cause it to ignite up to 3 times during a heating cycle?

On 2019-12-07 - by (mod) -

Barbara

We need some on-site diagnosis. The "rattle" at your old Riello burner could simply be a loose connector, coupling, bolt, etc. that can just be tightened.

Watch out: however; if what you are describing as "rattling" is actually improper burner or flame operation then the system is both unreliable and unsafe, and needs diagnosis and repair by a heating service technician.

On 2019-12-04 by Barbara

Riello Burner 40F3 is 6 years old and its starting to get a rattling noise.

On 2019-10-17 by (mod) - What would make the oil burner vent damper rattle?

Great question George

The draft regulator or barometric damper flapper door might jiggle and rattle around for several reasons including:

- rough or bad oil burner start-up (risking more serious even unsafe burner operation such as a developing PUFFBACK)

- wind gusts over a chimney where the chimney cap is lost or damaged

- vibration in the heating equipment from another cause

- worn loose damper parts

On 2019-10-17 by George

Why would make the damper rattle?

On 2019-04-13 by (mod) - suffering from neighbour's noisy boiler

Katherine

If your neighbour doesn't mind their high heating bills that might ensue from using a higher gpm oil nozzle than necessary on their oil burner,
If your neighbour doens't mind that their system noise may mean that it is not adjusted properly, wasting fuel or even possibly ultimately leading to a puffback explosion
and if your neighbour doesn't mind a very noisy heating system themselves,

then what's left for you to do?

Perhaps improve the sound-proofing between the buildings: (it's not inexpensive) by changing to noise-resistant windows, adding sound insulation in the wall nearest the neighbour, and finding and fixing any flanking pathways that noise follows into your bedroom.

See SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS https://inspectapedia.com/BestPractices/Sound_Control_in_Buildings.php

On 2019-04-13 by Katharine

I am suffering terribly from next doors boiler noise. It wakes me every time it starts up and I hear it throughout my bedrooms and in the garden. A very large extractor nossel was fitted close to our boundary high on their wall.
Neighbour says nothing can be done !
This has gone on for several years, but now I’m unwell and have sleep problems this is causing me much distress. We live in very quiet village where there is minimal sound normally except birdsong early in the morning!


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