These diagnostic questions and answers can help you diagnose heating oil burner odor or smoke complaints.

This article series describes the cause and cure for just about any odor or smell at or near an oil burner, where it comes from, what it means, and what needs to be done about it.

How to Diagnose Soot, Smoke, Odors During Oil Burner Operation

Watch out: thick dark smoke or soot coming from an oil burner, oil burning heating equipment, or from the flue or chimney venting such equipment is dangerous and risks a fire or puffback explosion. You should shut down such equipment immediately and make a call for emergency service.

Watch out: "Banging" noises inside an oil burner / boiler might be a sign of improper burner operation and risk a dangerous Puffback. Because puffbacks can be caused by a variety of problems (oil piping line leaks, dirty oil burner nozzle assembly, fuel or combustion air problems, simply failure to maintain the system) a trained service technician is needed.

See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

[Click to enlarge any image]

Watch out: roaring sounds in a flue or chimney indicate a very dangerous chimney fire. If that's going on you should evacuate the building and call the fire department.

See CREOSOTE FIRE HAZARDS

These questions and answers were originally posted at OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home

On 2021-01-03 by (mod) - weet oil smell and then it smells like old oil burned

Melissa

That certainly sounds like an oil burner service and repair job. I don't know whether the problem is an air leak at your nozzle adapter, incorrect air shutter settings, improper electrode settings, or another need for cleaning or repair.

On 2021-01-02 by Melissa Ambrose

Ok I have a sweet oil smell and then it smells like old oil burned. This Williamson oil burner is only 7 yrs old. I tuned it up regularly. I had to have all vents cleaned a week ago. Had furnace cleaned and new jet put in! I changed jet every ten to 11 months.

Air filter changed. Last one was quite dirty. Anyway all was good. Ok then my basement flooded but only had an inch of water on bottom of furncace. Drained quickly at the same time I had full tank of oil reliever. Tank is inside dirt floor side of basement.

The furnace man checked! He said furnace is clean and I see nothing wrong. Good draft to chimney. Now I know how finicky these ignitions are! If flame isn’t perfect it throws a smell. To me it also sounds like furnace has a five second cycle to start like if ur batter is weak in a car. I never heard it do that before.

Like it’s having a hard time getting going but only for seconds. I feel crazy cuz furnace guy doesn’t smell it. It only smells bad when heat has cycled maybe three or for it times in a row if it’s colder at night. Could my heat exchange have a hole in it and he doesn’t see it? Would it still heat my home as good as it is? This smell is making me crazy! It is worse in my living room and kitchen then other vents. Thank you for any advice!!!!!!!

On 2020-10-31 by (mod) - odor like oil smell in basement of church

Sure Ed,

See the diagnostic suggestions and loosed of odor causes for oil burners found at

OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS

On 2020-10-31 by Ed

My wife church had furnace cleaned by a plumber but getting a odor like oil smell in basement of church .He came back several times still getting smell. Any ideas what problem could be.

On 2020-10-24 - by (mod) -

Nars

Burnt electrical wiring is a rather distinctive smell and can point to overheating electrical wires, controls, motors, or similar components.

Often odors travel according to air currents, so it's not a surprise if an odor generated in a basement seems to collect at the top of the basement stairs where warm air rises and may collect if the door to the basement is usually shut.

We can't rule out a chimney problem such as a dirty flue, inadequate draft, or leaks; to be sure that your chimney is working properly and safe you'd

- confirm that the heating service technician has measured draft over the fire and in the breech to be sure those are correct. See details

at

DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES

and you may want to have a certified chimney sweep inspect the chimney exterior and interior including use of a chimscan camera;

Beyond those safety measures be certain that your CO and smoke detectors are properly located, installed, tested, working

and

Ask your service tech to check for overheating at the oil burner, motors, wires, controls at any equipment in the area that you suspect as the odor source: the basement

On 2020-10-24 by narsbars@gmail.com

Oil furnace in basement. After complaining about the smell my contractor replaced the relay to the hot water heater that was constantly kicking on and off. Then the burner nozzle, then the oxygen mix. When I open the door to the cellar in the morning I get a strong smell similar to burnt wiring or poor combustion.

The smell is localized at the top of the stairs, no smell near the furnace, multiple monoxide detectors, no alerts. Could this be a chimney problem?

On 2019-11-19 - by (mod) -

Sure, but if the shutdown repeats tge burner needs service or repair.

On 2019-11-19 by Anonymous

Can I clean the cad eye sight or should I get a new one

On 2019-11-19 by Ed

Changed nozzel on Miller kerosene furnace now it's running then shutting down after hitting cad cell relay red button it fires up then few hrs n out she goes then I reset red button should I clean the cad eye?

On 2019-04-16 by (mod) - hot cover over ? at the oil burner

Keith

Sorry but I don't have a clear understanding of just what's getting hot and what sort of "cover" we're discussing nor what "intake" you mean.

It is normal for the flue vent connector or "stackpipe" between an oil-fired heater and its connection to the chimney to be hot - easily 400 degF right above the heater when it's been running for 5 minutes or longer.

But I have no idea what sort of cover you're discussing -

Watch out: unsafe conditions? there could be a fire hazard or a hazard of an improperly-adjusted oil-fired heater.

On 2019-04-16 by Keith

I had some older insulation on top of the cover that covers the area above the intake and on the opposite side is where the chimney meets the furnace.

Recently I notice this cover has been getting really hot. If I spray water on it it will steam up and dissipate immediately. Is this cover suppose to get this hot?

On 2018-11-09 by (mod) -

Agree; un-burned fuel means incomplete combustion and failed starts and the burner thus going off on safety reset. Do not keep re-starting as you risk a puffback explosion.

Set the electrodes and oil presser as per the burner's specifications, usually given on a sticker right on the Beckett oil burner.

Check the transformer ,

On 2018-11-09 by Scott

I put in a new nozzle, fuel filter and reset new electrodes in my boiler using a beckett burner. I have fuel and strong ignition.
It would start and run, but when it called for heat again it would not restart, but it did one night and kicked off latter.

I have unurnt oil smell. I think my electrodes are to close of a gap 1/8 and 1/16 from the end. Using a type A 80 degree .75 gph nozzle.
Because of the unburnt fuel will need to reclean boiler.

On 2018-10-31 by (mod) -

James

There are some important chimney and heater safety questions when you change fuels.

Please see FUEL CHANGES for HEATING APPLIANCES https://inspectapedia.com/chimneys/Heating_Fuel_Change_Effects_on_Chimney.php

That article pops up when searching InspectApedia.com using the on page search box to look for "inspect chimney when changing fuels"

and let me know what questions remain.

On 2018-10-31 by james

we changed from an oil burner to gas is it necessary to change chimney liner that is stainless steel and will it cause carbon monoxide

On 2018-08-30 by (mod) -

Perhaps someone used a deodorant or a solvent was poured into the tank itself. If the tank is indoors it's most-likely not sitting on the basement floor - so an examination of the floor area around the tank ought to show if the leak is from that container.

An "empty" oil tank won't really be completely empty except when brand new before the first oil delivery, as even an effort to pump out the tank's contents is likely to leave some sludge and crud on the tank bottom.

Later, when such an abandoned tank is left in place it can leak out of the tank itself through a rust perforation, at a leaky tank bottom fitting, or out of leaky piping that was left in place.

Find the leak, clean it up, and if it's the tank, you would either patch/seal the tank leak from its exterior or have the tank removed.

If you find that the tank actually had an actual volume of fuel in it then you didn't have an adequate inspection or testing when you bought the home. Sorry.

On 2018-08-30 1 by Kt

We have an old oil tank in our basement. We bought the house a year ago and was told that the tank was empty because everything was switched over to gas...

about 3 nights ago oil leaked out of the tank in the basement and made the whole house smell horriable ( we have no idea where it came from because the tank it self was not wet anywhere and we didn’t see anything dripping out) now that we aired out the house, I keep smelling a sweet pine sol kind of smell mixed with the oil... does anyone know what this could be?

The tank isn’t hooked up to a furnance or anything anymore it’s just there... just a little nervous as I have 2 small children in the house.

On 2018-08-15 by (mod) -

You describe conditions risking an unsafe chimney (possibly fatal) and unsafe heater operation as well as risk of dangerous chimney collapse - not something that one can assess accurately by a photo.

Chimney damage can mean improper draft at the heater, improper burner operation, production of dangerous, even fatal carbon monoxide, and flue gas leaks into the building interior.

Hire a certified, professional chimney sweep and find out what repairs are needed.

Do not go to sleep without properly installed, placed, and tested smoke and CO detectors in the home.

On 2018-08-15 by Stacey

Ob from the 80's, had a puffback. Chimney is cracked up the middle of rhe block chimney. Inside flu has damage, barely maintained may have pitting amd cracks but has a good draft, 5 at the breach. 3 at the base. Been smelling fumes from the chimney for months. Worse when windy. Even when burner is offfor hours after the fumes eminate through the wall on the kitchen. Co2 detector never goes off, but big winds outside pushes the fumes on worse. Aside fro. A crack that isn't visible what reaaons coukd the SMELL be so strong.?

IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2018-07-26 by Deb

I’m hoping someone could help. When I put the air conditioning on in my home, within minutes I have a strong oil smell in my home but only when a/c is on. My oil burner is approx. 10 ft from where the a/c unit. This is a fairly new problem, I believe it started 2 summers ago. Help! Please!

Question: oil burner fumes & odors after burner shutdown on power-vented heating system

I have a power vent on my oil, hot air furnace. The furnace seems to run fine but I'm getting residual smell/fumes in the basement after the temp is satisfied and furnace shuts down. Is this normal and if i replace the vent will it fix the problem? The equipment is 12 years old. - Jake 1/11/2013

(Mar 2, 2017) Anonymous said: oil burner leak or maybe another kind of oil burner problem can send fumes

I read an article about how an oil burner leak or maybe another kind of oil burner problem can send fumes--or something else from the oil--up into the floors, walls and support beams of your house, making it saturated with oil. I found the article online when our heat started not working properly (going on when it shouldn't, and using too much oil).

Now I cannot find the article. I believe we have an issue like that. I smell oil on everything, the house floors are a little slippery--and smell of oil-- and I can see stains on the basement ceiling. This online article said that in many cases, the house needs to be dismantled because of oil poisoning and fire hazards.

There are also popping and humming noises, and quick flashing lights in the walls at times. I think we have an advanced and dangerous problem. I have also smelled natural gas odors outside for years--but now inside the house too-- which i now believe is carbon monoxide. It is an old heating system, and the burner is not cleaned yearly (we rent).

Recently my son became unsteady on his feet and has shaky hands--some of the symptoms of oil poisoning- and our dog is having soft, tarry stools. I believe the oil may be leeching out onto the property too (there are smells outside as well..

Have no idea how long that has been going on. That would be harmful to others, and to the environment. Please help if you have heard anything about this kind of problem! Thank you.

(Nov 12, 2017) Dianna said:

We live in an older home with an oil furnace in the basement. I just went to he l on the laundry and did t even start down stairs before an an acrid smell literally stung my nose a d took my breath away.

My husband air it out for a few moments and is down troubleshooting. He has haz/mat and heating and cooling experience... Still, I'm concerned for his safety.

Reply: responding to odors from the oil burner

Jake,

I'd take a look at the operation of the power venter during the shut-down cycle and compare that run time with the manufacturer's specifications. It may be that the system needs a purge cycle. Also look for heating oil drips or leaks around the system.

Anonymous:

An oil burner or oil piping leak causes improper and unsafe oil burner operation - so in addition to possibly leaking oil out, air leaks in, the burner doesn't fire properly, and there's risk of sooting or a puffback explosion.

But I can't assess the risks you question from an e-text. You need to

1. check with your doctor and vet about the medical concerns

2. have a competent onsite inspection

See OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home

Dianna

From no more information but your description, for safety it would make sense to turn off the heating system and call heating Service Company to examine and repair it. Danger includes a possible oil burner puff back explosion that could blow sit all over the place.

On 2018-03-21 by (mod) - You should not smell heating oil coming out of air supply vents

Renee

You should not smell heating oil coming out of air supply vents. I would ask the heating service company to first check that the heat exchanger at the furnace is not damaged as that would be unsafe.

Another checkpoint is for a heating oil spill (as can easily happen during service, I've done it myself) that happens to place oil or leave oil smells near a return air duct inlet. A return air inlet near the oil burner may also be unsafe.

On 2018-03-21 by Renee

I had maintenance done on my oil heater before turning it on, but when the heater goes on I smell oil coming out of the vent, I had someone come out twice for this but they said there was no problem with the heater. Why would I smell such a strong oil order when the heat goes on?

On 2018-02-24 by (mod) - typical oil burner draft level settings

Joe

I'll be glad to (try to) help.
If you are saying that the draft seems too low, I agree. Typically I might see 0.02 over the fire and may be twice that in the breech just below the damper.

Take a look at DRAFT REGULATOR, DAMPER, BOOSTER for a review of the topic.

Also review DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES to be sure you're making the measurement correctly.

Then we need to look for causes of inadequate draft:

- damper open too far

- inadequate combustion air

- chimney leaks

For example I've stumbled across a tech who was about to replace a "bad boiler" because she couldn't get proper draft. We took a look at the wall below the chimney, behind the boiler: the chimney cleanout door was wide open.

So, it's not just chimney height (20 ft should be enough) it's also what else is going on.

Outisde, down drafts, missing chimney cap, sometimes even roof shape or terrain features can also foul up draft.

See CHIMNEY DRAFT & PERFORMANCE https://inspectapedia.com/chimneys/Chimney_Draft_Problems.php where we start our discussion of the causes of and cures for inadequate draft.

On 2018-02-24 by Joe

Having a problem understanding the +.02 wc under the barometric damper on my oil furnace flue temp of 470 o2 8 co2 9 chimney liner 20 feet high

On 2018-02-01 by (mod) - troubleshooting intermittent oil burner problems

Joe

I agree that an intermittent problem with any equipment is one of the hardest things to troubleshoot.

Perhaps when the problem is happening you can relate it to some other condition like time of day, temperature, thermostat settings, noises at the equipment or some similar clue that will help your service company.

On 2018-01-29 by Joe Mac

I just recently had my old oil furnace replaced with a new oil furnace.

From the first day I got a smell (fumes type) that occurred but not always.One time it went 6 days without occurring. I have had the installer come to my house 5 times , the last time with a representative from the manufacturer, only for them to tell me the furnace is working fine. They showed me the gauges to prove it.

When the smell occurs, and it's strong, it causes me to sneeze,feel like blood rushing to my head and I've had headaches. Any ideas?

Thanks Joe

On 2018-01-16 by (mod) - look for an oil spill at the heater

Scott

That's not normal. I'd look for an oil spill at the heater and improper duct return air inlet nearby.

On 2018-01-16 by Scott

We just had the furnace cleaned and the oil tank filled and for the first time it smells like oil blowing out the ducts but doesnt last long.is this a problem?

On 2018-01-14 by (mod) - sweet smell and sweet taste in mouth

Steve

I don't know what would cause the symptoms you describe. It doesn't sound like an oil burner problem.

On 2018-01-14 by Steve

When my oil burner kicks on I smell like a sweet smell & also there's a sweet taste in my mouth . My clothes all smell like it too . What is this ? Please help , wondering if unhealthy or who to have look at it?

On 2018-01-03 by Anonymous - check for smells picked up at the return air inlet; check the heat exchanger

2 things people check are a smoke or odor Source being picked up at a return air Inlet for your duct system and a condition of and safety of the heat exchanger in your furnace. Your heating service technician can help you with both of those.

On 2018-01-03 1 by Heidi

Strange qurstion. When our furnace kicks on I get a very faint smell of what reminds me of a camp fire.

Our neighbor has an outdoor furnace is it possible for the scent of his stuff burning to come in a drafty area in the basement so that when our furnace kicks on we get the smell in the house?

We just had it serviced and a new heat exchange installed a couple weeks ago. The smell has happened before the servicing. I do not see smoke coming out of my vents or my chimney.

On 2018-01-01 by (mod) - smoke coming out of heating registers or at the chimney top is unsafe

Watch out: No, smoke coming out of your heating supply registers OR smoke blowing out of the chimney is in either case unsafe and means the heating system should be shut down - call for emergency repair service.

On 2018-01-01 by Anonymous

Ion a cold night our furnace blowing smoke out of vent on Ripp ? Is it safer ? Please r respond

On 2018-01-01 by Terry

Heavy kerosene smell after oil furnace serviced

On 2017-12-31 by (mod) - In very cold weather you may see some white smoky vapor,

Carl

In very cold weather you may see some white smoky vapor, particularly dense when an oil burner first starts up. But once the system has reached operating temperatures and the chimney has warmed, you should see no exhaust. If you're still seeing smoke I suspect the burner needs cleaning and adjustment.

On 2017-12-31 by Carl

My chimney blows white smoke is that normal I don't see any one else's doing that

On 2017-12-27 by (mod) - odor traced to dry trap in floor drain

Joe

Your onsite tech did a great job finding the dry floor trap - not something I considered since I mistakenly assumed the "fumes" you smelled were blamed on the oil burner. Drain fumes, in contrast, would not normally smell like heating oil or oil burner fumes but rather more like sewer gas or sulphur or rotten eggs.

But there is an other problem that MUST be attended. If your furnace is pulling fumes out of a floor drain then

1. the burner itself could be air-starved, making the system unsafe

or

2. if the burner has adequate combustion air and the problem is picking up return air into the duct system from the area of the heating equipment, that too is potentially unsafe, because you can cause both unsafe burner operation and your system can send CO and other combustion gases into occupied space

and

3. the return air system for the home is inadequate, insufficient, and return air inlets are also improperly located

On 2017-12-27 by Joe

Thanks for your response. I did have a tech check air quality and it was good.

He asked if I had a basement drain and I do, about 10 feet from the furnace.

After inspecting the drain he found what he suspected.

Because the drain is seldom used, the water in the trap had evaporated allowing fumes to come through. Never happened with the old furnace but the new more efficient furnace pulled out the fumes and sent them through the house.

On 2017-12-27 by (mod) - From the first day I have been getting fumes from the new oil burner

Joe

I'd give the service manager a call and ask for help from a very experienced technician.

You want to figure out if the "fumes" are from

- an oil leak

- improper oil burner adjustment

- inadequate combustion air

- a chimney draft problem or a chimney that is damaged, leaky, and thus unsafe.

You might need also a chimney check by a certified chimney sweep, particularly if a measurement at the furnace shows marginal or poor draft.

On 2017-12-26 by Joe

I recently had a new oil furnace installed replacing my previous oil furnace. From the first day I have been getting fumes from it.

Reputable company installed and has looked at 3 times. Still emitting fumes but stronger sometimes than others. Installers put a direct line for air thinking it had negative pressure. Still no good. Causes my head to feel like high blood pressure. Any ideas?Installer check for CO but was zero.

On 2017-12-23 by (mod) - If the odor is of heating oil and near the oil burner or oil tank I'd look for a spill.

Anna,

If the odor is of heating oil and near the oil burner or oil tank I'd look for a spill.

If the odor is when the burner is running then there is probably an oil burner adjustment needed, or perhaps a chimney or draft problem to be corrected.

Try a polite conversation with the service manager, make clear that by no means do you wish to waste their time (nor yours) but if you and others in your home smell a significant odor traced to the oil heating system that was just serviced, and as you didn't have the odor complaint before, there may be an adjustment needed for not just odor but for safety.

Perhaps the manager will agree to send an experienced technician. She would confirm the odor, examine burner operation, perhaps make basic measurements of smoke level, CO2, temperature - to check system operation.

On 2017-12-23 by Anna

I had my furnace cleaned last week and immediately started smelling a strong oil smell. Called the company and they sent a man to check it.

Claims there is nothing wrong but still getting the smell when it starts up. I can't afford to pay service charges for them to come tell me there is nothing wrong. Could it be a wrong nozzle or too much fuel going into the furnace.

On 2017-12-18 by (mod) - it's really not possible for a homeowner to make the correct combustion air adjustment on a modern oil burner.

Trent,

Unfortunately it's really not possible for a homeowner to make the correct combustion air adjustment on a modern oil burner.

The heating service technician who does that is using several instruments including a draft gauge, a smoke tester, and a temperature measurement.

Without those you can get in the right ballpark but you cannot get the system running optimally nor even correctly. So it would be better to call your heating service tech to inspect and adjust the oil burner, and to clean it if that has not been done for this heating season.

On 2017-12-18 by Trent

I also have this smell of oil when my furnace starts up im gonna try this airflow adjustment my question would be we the family have been breathing this in for the last 2 winters house doesn't hold heat well is this odour harming us

On 2017-12-14 by (mod) - heating oil combustion fumes

Cindy,

Possibly you are smelling heating oil combustion fumes. CHeck in the boiler room for stronger odor. Look for sooting around the boiler - that'd indicate a need for service.

On 2017-12-14 by Cindy

I have been getting a smell that remind me of WD40 product when my boiler fires up. Could this be be the smell of an additive for the oil tank condensation I did just get the tank filled. Never smelt this before.

On 2017-11-23 (mod) - look for oil spills at the fill pipe

I think I would look around carefully near the Phil piping to see if there was an oil spill. If there was most likely are oil company will be willing to clean it up

On 2017-11-21 by Grace

PS The oil tank is located in the front of the house in the basement.

I have the smell of oil right outside my front door. The pipes where the oil is delivered is at the end of the porch.

There is no smell in that area. I went downstairs and checked the tank no smell and no visible leaks. The pipes all look good. But I'm scared how could I get the smell of oil from under the porch? It's s small cape cod house. 1953.

On 2017-11-07 by (mod) - heater stops working after service call

Amanda,

I would call the service manager at your heating company and politely explain what has happened. I would expect the company to immediately send out an experienced service tech to find out what went wrong with the service call, and to make whatever repair is needed.

I would not run the system until it's repaired since what you describe could risk and oil burner puff back.

On 2017-11-07 by Amanda

We have a 20+ year oil heat furnace (steam). We had it serviced yesterday and it was working fine.

Clicked it on this morning, it fired right up ran for 15 mins no heat came up to the radiators and then we smelled what we think was oil burning smell. No smoke that we could see but the system then shut off abruptly and will not restart. It was flushed and cleaned of carbon yesterday. Not sure what to do?

On 2017-09-01 by (mod) - Black smoke from an oil burner is unsafe

Deborah,

Watch out: Black smoke from an oil burner is unsafe, risking an oil burner puffback explosion. Ask your oil heat service manager to send you an experienced service technician.

On 2017-08-30 22:26:56.828224 by Deborah

I had a new condenser oil boiler fitted a couple of months ago, I've only started to use it a lot last few weeks as haven't needed to because of nice weather.

There was thick black smoke coming out of the chimney, the fittest came out, apparently the condenser wasn't emptying and the water was gathering somewhere in the system, there is still a build up of sut inside the system on the chimney isn't working properly, they have set some dial two 5 1/2 when it should only be one and a half.

I've been told it's OK to carry on using the system but i'm too scared, it's just so this chimney isn't admitting any fumes at all. They said they would come back and clean it but haven't been given any date . Do you think i'm OK to still use the system?

On 2017-08-10 by (mod) - smell of oil when the boiler turns on

Liz

Indeed over decades of work on this topic I've found a wide range of people's sense of smell. Furthermore, a person working around oil fired heating equipment is used to the odors and might be even less sensitive to them than may be other people.

It may be helpful to distinguish between odor of heating oil fuel itself and odors coming from the oil burner due to a malfunction or a chimney leak.

If the odor surges when the boiler first starts-up I'd suspect it's a dirty start-up condition or an initial draft problem

. If the oil burner tech's instruments and measurements show that the burner is working properly and cleanly it might still make you happier to add an oil delay valve - OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES explains - as that will allow the system to establish a draft before the burner ignites.

Usually that's enough to stop a complaint about an odor burp when the burner starts.

If there are fuel oil smells regardless of when the burner is operating, it's possible that there is or was a fuel leak or a fuel spill, as can easily happen during equipment removal, replacement, installation.

For that case a combination of cleaning, using a heating oil deodorant spray (basically a solvent + a better-smelling cover-up odor) can help; sometimes we need to also spray a sealant over the floor or area where a spill occurred. Sniff at your oil burner tank or fill or vent valve to get a better idea of what heating oil smells like.

Please READ two articles found by the live links at "Continue Reading" above where you'll find

OIL ODOR SOURCES

OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home

Keep me posted.

On 2017-08-10 by Liz

I just had a slant fin oil boiler installed, and a new oil tank. I noticed a smell of oil when the boiler turns on, and the installer returned to replace a nozzle, which he said was mis-firing. He was surprised I could smell it; he said it should be so faint it would go undetected

. I happen to have an extremely sensitive airway system, caused by an injury. After replacing, the next day, Im continuing to smell this oder when the boiler goes on. the system is all brand new- What could it be, if not just the nozzle? I had all clean oil put in- Please help, and Thanks for your imput. Liz

On 2017-08-10 by (mod) - my new oil fired heating boiler still smells, what could the problem be?

Liz

Indeed over decades of work on this topic I've found a wide range of people's sense of smell. Furthermore, a person working around oil fired heating equipment is used to the odors and might be even less sensitive to them than may be other people.

It may be helpful to distinguish between odor of heating oil fuel itself and odors coming from the oil burner due to a malfunction or a chimney leak.

If the odor surges when the boiler first starts-up I'd suspect it's a dirty start-up condition or an initial draft problem.

If the oil burner tech's instruments and measurements show that the burner is working properly and cleanly it might still make you happier to add an oil delay valve - OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES at https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Oil_Quick_Stop_Valves.php explains - as that will allow the system to establish a draft before the burner ignites. Usually that's enough to stop a complaint about an odor burp when the burner starts.

If there are fuel oil smells regardless of when the burner is operating, it's possible that there is or was a fuel leak or a fuel spill, as can easily happen during equipment removal, replacement, installation. For that case a combination of cleaning, using a heating oil deodorant spray (basically a solvent + a better-smelling cover-up odor) can help; sometimes we need to also spray a sealant over the floor or area where a spill occurred. Sniff at your oil burner tank or fill or vent valve to get a better idea of what heating oil smells like.

Please READ two articles found by the live links at "Continue Reading" at the end of this article where you'll find

OIL ODOR SOURCES

and

OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home

Keep me posted.

On 2017-08-10 by Liz - odors from Slant Fin oil boiler

I just had a slant fin oil boiler installed, and a new oil tank. I noticed a smell of oil when the boiler turns on, and the installer returned to replace a nozzle, which he said was mis-firing.

He was surprised I could smell it; he said it should be so faint it would go undetected. I happen to have an extremely sensitive airway system, caused by an injury. After replacing, the next day, Im continuing to smell this oder when the boiler goes on. the system is all brand new-

What could it be, if not just the nozzle? I had all clean oil put in- Please help, and Thanks for your imput. Liz

On 2017-05-13 by Anonymous Rudd forced hot air oil furnace smoking badly

Watch out: Mike, I would definitely leave the system turned off and you're describing what could be a puff back explosion that not only makes a terrible mess but can be dangerous.

Even when an oil burner is not operating properly it should not be capable of pushing search through the heating vents into the building unless the heat exchanger itself has a hole in it or if smoke and should are blowing into a room by an air return Inlet.

In any event with a oil burner smoking badly needs to be left turned off to avoid the puff pack explosion that I cited. It's time to call your service tech.

See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

On 2017-05-13 by Mike

I have a 9 year old Rudd forced hot air oil furnace.
Yesterday, after about 50 mins when it was first turned on.. the burner became very hot... then pushed a lot of smoke through the heat vents in the entire house!

On 2017-04-12 by (mod) - black smoke from a chimney

Perhaps, Bob, as "old" diesel fuel may be dirty or tarry and may not burn properly, clogging the nozzle or speeding the deposit of soot and debris on the electrodes.

But

Watch out: black smoke from a chimney could be dangerous: use the search box just above to See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

And turn off the furnace now.

On 2017-04-12 by bob

if u used old diesel fuel to run your furnace could this cause a black smoke from chimney

On 2017-02-11 by (mod) - smells after the oil burner was serviced, odors come out of ducts

I would look for a heating oil spill in or around the furnace and for wet spots showing a leak in oil piping.

Watch out: such leaks are unsafe and can lead to an oil burner puffback.

Check also for a return air inlet too close to the oil burner, also an unsafe condition.

On 2017-02-10 by Beth

Just had my furnace serviced last month. We are smelling fuel fumes every time the forced air blows. What is causing this and should I call my oil company?

On 2017-01-06 by (mod) - Smoke coming out on my vents stained the carpet - cleanup?

I think I would call a professional carpet cleaning company.

On 2017-01-06 by Oil heat and I have chimney smoke coming out of me very ts on to my carpet

Had chimney. Smoke coming out on my vents on to my carpet.

got it fix. now how can or what can I do to get my carpet cleaning

On 2017-01-05 by (mod) - smoke from the flu on our roof

Donna,

Watch out: It is not common nor propery to see you smoke at the chimney top that is venting your heating system. It means that the heating system burner is not operating properly and it is unsafe. You should call for repair by your heating technician.

Search inspectApedia.com for PUFFBACK EXPLOSION

On 2017-01-05 by Donna

Is it commom to see smoke from the flu on our roof. We have an oil fired furnace.

On 2016-12-31 by (mod) - There should be NO oil burner odors coming through the air ducts

There should be NO oil burner odors coming through the air ducts of a forced warm air oil-fired furnace system. The worry is a damaged, unsafe heat exchanger - risking fire or fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. But the fact that the problem started after service is indeed suggestive.

Make a calm polite call to the service company's manager and ask that she send an experienced senior tech to the home to correct this improper and unsafe condition.

On 2016-12-31 by duanet@clarityconnect.com

I have a burned oil smell from the ducts after the burner shuts off and about the last 15 seconds before the blower stops. This began immediately after the annual servicing. I had them come back but they could find nothing wrong and charged me another $100.

On 2016-11-27 by (mod) -

Jim said:

Wow, alot of problems regarding oil heaters, I have designed and sold fan forced waste oil heaters for 7 years now, and when testing these heaters, should they every smoke or smell or soot up the answer is more airflow.

Very simple turn the air volume up until it all clears to a heat vapour. It will look as if it's not even going at times.

On 2016-10-29 by (mod) - ouse smelling of oil are the fumes dangerous ?

Tracy,

my first concern is safety of the heating system. If there is an oil leak not only is the heating system not working correctly but you may be facing a costly oil spill. So you or your heating service person needs to take a close look at the heating system

If you use the inspect a pedia search box at page top or near the page end and search for heating oil exposure you will find an article that discusses the health hazards associated with exposure to heating oil liquid or fumes. Please take a look and let me know if questions remain.

On 2016-10-28 by Tracy

Hi I've got an oil boiler and have just come home to my house smelling of oil are the fumes dangerous ?

On 2016-10-28 by (mod) - oil burner has hot air coming out of the view port.

Mike

Watch out: What you describe sounds dangerous to me:

1. Exhaust gases exiting the view port suggest that the system is running with backpressure - possibly a clogged heat exchanger or a blocked chimney. Other causes include improper burner adjustment or improper draft control.

2. Either of those conditions risk a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. There is also risk of heat damage to the heating system making it unsafe: for example overheating can crack a heat exchanger also risking fatal carbon monoxide gas in the building.

On 2016-10-27 by Mike

My forced hot air oil burner has hot air coming out of the view port. The hinged port door get very hot and the hot air comes out and downward (the direction of the hinged opening) an dwarms up the burner transformer and reset box. What is causing this?

On 2016-10-22 by (mod) - ring of black soot at the top of the chimney

Albert:

If an oil fired heating system is not properly cleaned and adjusted it may build up soot in the chimney at a faster rate than normal.

But all oil fired heaters need an annual cleaning and service as it is normal for there to be at least some soot accumulation during the season. At this point, if the chimney is even partly blocked by soot and debris the system cannot be adjusted for proper operation and it is unsafe. It sounds as if you need both a chimney cleaning and then a proper oil burner tune-up.

On 2016-10-22 by Albert

I had a new oil furnace put in a few years back. When they put the furnace in, they changed the chimney set up and added a liner. I noticed they by passed they inspection area, and went wright out the chimney.

A couple of years went by, and I noticed a ring of black soot at the top of the chimney.

The furnace company came in and change the jet or jets and vacuumed out the furnace, they told me the soot should stop when heat from the furnace carries the rest of black stuff out. Last year the Furnace company sent a new guy out for the same problem, he adjusted the furnace and told me I needed a chimney sweep in to clean the chimney out.

I waited until now thinking that because we were in the early spring when they came, and that heat would take of the soot. Of course it did not. Now I wait for this chimney sweep. What do you think the problem is?

On 2016-06-03 by (mod) - exhaust/soot odor which is sometimes combined with an oil type odor in my apartment

All sounds dangerous; I think we discussed this question and I replied on another web page;

you may be best served by an onsite expert; if you believe that there are CO dangers in the building you should call emergency services 911 and warn building occupants as well as management right away.

On 2016-06-03 13:26:32.155237 by Arlene

Hi. I live on 5th floor of a large apartment building (co-op), and have lived here 12 years. Five months ago I began having an exhaust/soot odor which is sometimes combined with an oil type odor in my apartment

. Builing reports that they changed grade of oil to a clean burning grade around same time. Fumes appear to present at regular intervals when boiler is on. Fumes are making me short of breath, lightheaded, dizzzy, and nauseas. Definitely begin to feel "stupid" after breathing fumes in.

Making me very ill and management sent "boiler specialist" who found no problems, but could not answer my question regarding my ability to identifywhen the boiler is on by the fumes in my alartment. No black soot visible, but can I can taste it and smell it on clothes. I have exhaust fan in window and huge hepa filter.

Bought CO/gas detector - not picking anything up, even though I smell it. Iam also an ER RN and am familiar with treating CO exposures. I also have burning to nose and throat and chest when fumes are present. Management has been treating this as if I am crazy. Never had this or any fume in the 12 years here.

Bldg super came to apt and cranked heat thru cell phone connection which immediately noted the fumes and produced symptoms, yet they said they noted nothing. Feeling desparate.... Need help and some answers...... Bldg used to blow black smoke via chimney... Now none with oil grade change...... Thank you.

On 2016-02-03 19:34:15.260420 by Jimbo our neighbour had black smoke pouring out of oil boiler flue.

our neighbour had black smoke pouring out of oil boiler flue. Since then we have noticed strange burning plastic/ electrical smell in our house.

We share one wall with her property although her boiler is supposedly using a balanced flue and is 15m away from our wall. Service man says her boiler is fixed but we can still smell odor when she turns it on. Have young kids in the house and concerned. Flue damaged and leaking into cavity walls or floor space perhaps? Odd and worrying, any advice appreciated!

On 2016-01-28 by Rocco

My brother has oil heat & the tank was in the garage attached to the house...I replace it with gas heat....now some of my friends say they can smell oil in the basement when they come in....not all the time but sometimes ....what can I do & is it dangerous to anyone who sleeps in the basement...?

On 2016-01-09 0 by (mod) - backdrafting, possibly a blocked flue (unsafe)

Ryan,

backdrafting, possibly a blocked flue (unsafe) or an oil burner needing cleaning and adjustment.

On 2016-01-08 by ryan

I have a oil furnace when I start it i smell sulfur clear smoke comes out of the pipes what could it be?

On 2016-01-03 by (mod) - wood oil boiler operation safety

Jason I apologize for having to duck and weave, but because there are life safety issues implicit in your question I must answer that I think the proper adjustment depends on the brand and model stove you have installed as well as other parameters such as draft measurements, fuel being used, etc.

If you don't have the instructions for your heater, armed with brand and model we can probably help you find a copy.

Watch out: if the chimney used to vent wood fire exhaust becomes creosote laden there is a serious fire hazard in the building. So if your system has become more smoky than previously that may be a clue that the chimney is unsafe and needs cleaning.

On 2016-01-03 by Jason

I have the wood oil boiler and there is a metal plate that sits on top of the water tubes that can be moved so there is a gap in the front or the back to let the smoke go out into the chimney. I am getting a lot of soot build up in the chimney and I want to know how should I adjust the metal plate?

Should it be centered so there's a gap in the front and the back or should it be moved to the back so the smoke goes up in the front or should it be moved to the front so the smoke goes straight up and out the chimney?

On 2015-05-20 by (mod) - mell burning rubber outdoors and in boiler room when burner is on

Johnny:

Watch out: I would shut down the system for safety.

I suspect that the coupling between motor and oil burner assembly is failing but there could be another problem such as overheating electrical or other components.

On 2015-05-20 14:35:36.192950 by Johnny

I smell burning rubber outdoors and in boiler room when burner is on. I had to switch air intake to lower setting to keep the burner on normal state (it kept switching off / switching to alert state when the air intake was at the previous setting). This all started after a chimney sweep.

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: 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

(Feb 10, 2013) Arthur Coppola said:

I had a new chamber lining installed.Upon completeing this when it fires i smell oil.The
Draft regulator is always open. They used a 1.00 80 b . All vents were closed,And setting
10 on the side.

(Dec 20, 2012) steveo said:

after cleaning the filter, the "screen" by the pump, this oil fired burner/furnace was still "smelling. After obtaining the proper size nozzle, I called the manuf. to get the correct settings (above,in front, apart) on electrodes, but that made it even worse! I modified the settings (further apart and further away from the nozzle,I reasoned, "further apart bigger spark" ,no?).

That produced a much better result, yet now the smelling seems to be infrequent, off and on. What could be wrong? I have no efficiency tester btw did not think I would need one as long as I went by the manufact. specs. I am grateful for any suggestions.

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

Ian & Arthu & Steveo

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.

Question: oil smell in basement when oil burner starts

I have an oil fired forced hot air system in my home. I had it cleaned and inspected about a month ago. It runs and heats fime most of the time. However I have noticed an oil smell in the basement when the oil burner kicks on and my attic fan runs at the same time(the attic fan has a humidistat). Is this becasue the attic fan causes a negative pressure in the house? Is this normal? Does my furnace need to be adjusted? Derrick - 12/9/11

Reply:

Derrick,

Could be that a whole house ventilating fan interferes with combustion air supply to the oil burner. Certainly if you notice sooting, oil odors, and burner operating problems when that fan is on it's highly suspicious. Provide an outdoor combustion air supply source directly to the burner. Above in this article we list other causes & cures of oil burner noises.

Also see our notes in the article above and the Q&A's below about oil burner noise and smoke at startup;

Question: we have soot all over our house - service company didn't find any problems with the oil burner

We have soot all over our house, had our oil burner (6 years old) service and it was clean and they found no problems. There was no soot in the basement. The tech. said that soot is coming from burning candles. The soot is mainly above the heating elements. I burn two candles in living room and yet there is soot in all of the rooms. Could it be candles that would cause this much soot? - Sheldon 3/26/12

Reply: check for prior puffback, then check for thermal tracking

Sheldon,

First let's make sure that the "soot" is really soot from the heating system not from some other source, or not soot at all. Burning two candles might make soot, especially scented candles, but in my experience burning candles in one room doesn't soot up the whole house.

If the soot were coming from the heating system through ducts you'd find soot depositions in the ductwork and at supply registers.

If soot were coming from an oil burner puffback you'd find soot at the boiler room or furnace room

You should take a look

at THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS - from what you say the black stains you see may not be soot at all.

Watch out: "Banging" noises inside an oil burner / boiler might be a sign of improper burner operation and risk a dangerous Puffback.

See OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

Question: New Yorker Boiler & Riello R6 Burner - can't get it working

I have a NY Boiler and a Riello R5 burner. I came home today and the boiler was cold. temperature was down to 80 on my gauge.

Tried to fire up the burner nothing happened. Bled the burner so it is getting oil. Checked the Aquastat and I am getting power to the burner. Powered it all down and on again. Side vent starts, aquastat clicks but burner doesn't fire. Any ideas? - John 5/13/12

Reply:

John,

You could be out of fuel, have a clogged oil filter, have a clogged oil burner nozzle, a burned out oil burner transformer, damaged oil burner electrodes, an electric motor failure at the oil burner (check for a thermal reset switch), no power to the oil burner, or a bad primary control, or something else I haven't thought of.

A reasonable sequence of steps is given at the top of this article, including these steps

• Assure that there is electrical power to the burner and controls
• Assure that the TT is calling for heat
• Assure that there is fuel
• Check various reset buttons & switches

Question: moldy smell from window air conditioner

in summer we had musky moldish smell believed from window air conditioner-cleaned it WELL-still bad smell-gave it away-no smell from new owner-couple months later plugged in room portable heater BAD musky smell-can find NO mold did mold test had regular molds everyone has-WHATS CAUSIN THIS-have a carpet in this room-this room only has the smell with air cond. use or heater use? - Randy 10/6/12

Reply:

Randy, most likely the mold test you performed was unreliable, even junk science given the description in your message and the continuation of the moldy odor.

Somehow you are discussing this question on a hot water heating boiler page. Anyhow, information about mold in air conditioning systems is at MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK

and at WINDOW / WALL AIR CONDITIONERS

Question: is it possible to replace the heat shield in my oil burner combustion chamber?

The heat shield in my oil boiler burner box is damaged, dan it be repaired? it is a foam type shield. - Bob 10/9/12

Reply: yes and it is a critical safety feature that needs to be fixed

Bob, I've never seen a foam heat shield and can 't imagine what that might be. But there are various types of combustion chamber liners in the fire box that contains the oil burner flame, ranging from fire-brick through pre-formed factory-built combustion chamber liners to a wet-pack kit used to repair or reline a combustion chamber through the oil burner mounting opening.

Watch out:  The combustion chamber liner is critical for safe, proper oil burner operation, serving at least two functions:

1. The combustion chamber liner gets hot when the oil burner is running, helping to assure complete combustion of oil droplets exiting the oil burner nozzle
2. The combustion chamber liner prevents the oil burner from burning a hole through the back of the boiler or furnace - a fire hazard.

Question: smoke came out of warm air heating supply vents when I turned on the heat.

I just turned on heat for first time this season . At start smoke came out of vents all over house for about a minute then stopped. It was white not black. We vented house and it did not happen again. Is this normal? - Donna 10/9/12

Reply:

Watch out: Any smoke coming out of heating vents is a sign of trouble and unsafe conditions. You should not run the heating system until the system has been inspected and if necessary, repaired. While I can imagine a few scenarios that might produce a smoke-like substance at first heating startup of the season (perhaps A/C condensate leak on the heat exchanger) what you describe is certainly not normal and as it could be an unsafe condition it needs attention.

Question: oil burner fumes & odors after burner shutdown on power-vented heating system

I have a power vent on my oil, hot air furnace. The furnace seems to run fine but I'm getting residual smell/fumes in the basement after the temp is satisfied and furnace shuts down. Is this normal and if i replace the vent will it fix the problem? The equipment is 12 years old. - Jake 1/11/2013

Reply:

Jake, I'd take a look at the operation of the power venter during the shut-down cycle and compare that run time with the manufacturer's specifications. It may be that the system needs a purge cycle. Also look for heating oil drips or leaks around the system.

Question: exhaust smell coming from the furnace.

I have an exhaust smell coming from the furnace. Repair people have been out twice and have no idea where it is coming from. Furnace has been cleaned a new transformer and nozel have been placed along with all systems checked and have been told there is nothing wrong !

Basement smells horrible and the smell is rising into the first and second floors of my home. Can't use my fireplace due to the extreme smell created by the draft.

Began this season after the first tank fill, and has gotten worse with the second fill. The tank is a Rheem above ground stand up and is only several years old.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. J.D. 2/22/2014

Reply:

This matter is potentially dangerous and not one that can be reliably diagnosed from just the information in your note.

Some things to consider:

- Make sure that you have correctly identified the type of smell and that you've had it corroborated by a second person who can help locate where it is strongest and what is its nature.

- If the smell is related to the heating system then most likely the equipment is not operating properly and may be unsafe or at least unreliable - risking loss of heat or dangerous flue gases escaping into the building

- If there is a relationship between the smell and your fireplace but the smell is of heating oil then there may be an unsafe and hidden leak within the chimney: heating appliances cannot share chimneys with the fireplace and certainly can also not share venting of appliances or fireplaces on different floors.

You need a professional heating service call - discuss your concerns with the heating company manager;

You may also need a professional inspection by a certified chimney sweep.

Question: strong oil odor smell in house

(Apr 26, 2014) Orlando said:

As soon I enter my house I have this strong oil odor smell. I went down to the basement and I don't see any oil coming out of the line, filter or even the furnace itself. The filter was changed 2 month ago, a valve was changed and everything seems to be working in good condition. I have heat to the house and water. what it could be?

Reply:

Orlando if you are sure it's a heating oil smell you'd want to check for

- a recent oil delivery that spilled outside
- a recent oil delivery that seeped or leaked at the tank
- a heating oil piping leak
- a leak at the oil burner

- improper oil burner operation

Question: carbon formed when buring diesel in commercial bakery oven

8/29/14 steevan said:

hi, we are using diesel burner for bakery production. Inside oven, more carbon is formated even diesel pressure is perfect. What would be the reason?

Reply:

Sounds like a burner or venting design problem and possibly an unsafe oven. I'd ask for help starting by contacting the oven manufacturer.

Question:

(Aug 30, 2014) steevan said:

hi, we are using diesel burner for bakery production. Inside oven, more carbon is formated even diesel pressure is perfect. What would be the reason?

Reply:

Sounds like a burner or venting design problem and possibly an unsafe oven. I'd ask for help starting by contacting the oven manufacturer. Keep us posted.

Question: smoke and odors shortly after turning on the oil burner

(Sept 5, 2014) Mike Xiao said:

Hi, everything was fine wnen we shut down the oil boiler three weeks ago before our vacation. But we found a lot of smoke/odor last night within 5-10 minutes after we returned home and re-started the system. What is the potential reason and what to do next? Thanks!

Reply:

Mike your oil burner needs to be serviced by a professional. Could be just a cleaning and nozzle, filter & screen replacement or could be something else like a oil line or valve leak.also check the condition of the chimney and flue.

More possible causes of oil burner smoke and noise are in the article above.

Question: strong oil smell

(Oct 8, 2014) Anonymous said:

Strong door smell of oil in house

Reply:

Anon:

If the odor is of home heating oil I'd check through the article above, starting at the oil burner and boiler or furnace or oil fired water heatr and at the oil storage tank. If the system is producing smoke and operating oddly shut if off for safety.

Question: oil burner smells

(Nov 15, 2014) Anonymous said:
Our oil furnace has started to produce a fuel smell while operating, more so as soon as it starts to blow the air and tappers off as it's running. What may be causing this? The motor is and all attached is new (beckett) No harsh starting sounds and no off sounds when it turns off, but the motor sounds like it's really sucking alot of air when it's running. Thanks

Question: neighbour complains of dense black billowing smoke from my oil burner's chimney

(Nov 22, 2014) Peg said:
my neighbor called me and said my chimney was billowing smoke a lot more than usual/.
I heat with oil.
Any suggestions as to what it could be?

(Dec 12, 2014) Jarrett said:
This morning I changed the nozzle on our furnace. When I came home later black smoke was coming out of our chimney. I seen there was a crack in the line so I fixed that and no more black smoke but now there is white smoke coming from the furnace when the door is closed. Some kerosene did spill when fixing the line kind of behind the furnace before I could get to it and I was just wondering if this could be the kerosene burning off.

Reply:

Peg

Watch out: Your heating system is not operating properly - could be a dirty nozzle, bad oil burner blower fan, or lack of combustion air or something else. I would SHUT DOWN the system and call for emergency heat repair - you risk a dangerous oil burner PUFFBACK explosion.

Jarrett

I would SHUT DOWN the system promptly - worryied about puffbacks and still worse mess.

If there was un-burned oil in the combustion chamber it would normally burn off in the first 5 minutes of ignition.

But you may have stripped or damaged threads on the nozzle adapter - that can cause improper spray of oil into the combustion chamber, ignition and combustion problems.

Let me know what you find.

Question: oil burner smoke comes out of fireplace

14 January 2015 Anonymous said:
I have a oil fired boiler that is atmospherically vented into my chimney. I have had a fire in my fire place the last two nights. After the fire has gone out the last two night smoke has continued to come out of my chimney several hours after. When I closed the flue the smoke stopped. When I inspected the clean out i found 4 inches of what looked to be flat clay colored deposits. Why did the chimney smoke so long after the fire was out. the outside temp has been single digets.

Reply:

Anonymous:

That sounds dangerous: there may be a smoldering chimney fire or the chimney flues may be damaged so that oil burner exhaust is entering the fireplace flue.

Ask for a flue inspection by a certified chimney sweep.

...

Continue reading at OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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Recommended Articles

• OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home
• OIL BURNER NOISE / ODOR DIAGNOSTIC INDEX - noises often go together with smoke and odors and can help diagnose one another
• OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS
• OIL ODOR SOURCES

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