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Oil fired heating boiler defect list:
This article lists significant Oil-Fired Heating boiler (hot water or hydronic heat) defects, definitions, and home inspection education topics.
The building defects and inspection points listed in these articles also guide homeowners and home buyers to building areas that merit careful attention and often point areas of safety concern or important maintenance and repair tasks.
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Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Heating Boiler Defects
4.3 Hot Water Heating Boilers - Hydronic Heating System Defects List
4.3.1 Knowledge Base for Oil Fired Heating Boilers
1. Describe the function of a hot water (hydronic) heating system.
2. Describe open and closed heating systems.
3. Describe four types of distribution piping (series loop, 1-pipe system, 2-pipe system - direct return, 2-pipe system - reverse return).
4. List the materials and components of a typical hot water heating system including
fuel storage and supply system,
burner,
combustion air supply,
venting,
cabinet/body,
heat exchanger,
controls,
expansion tank,
pump (circulators),
pipe,
radiator,
convector,
baseboard,
radiant heating.
5. Describe the features of adequate installation and repair technique for hot water heating systems.
6. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of hot watering heating relative to forced air heating.
7. Outline the differences between boilers and furnaces, including the normal operating cycles.
8. Define the following terms with respect to hot water boilers:
convection,
conduction,
radiation,
super heated water,
pressure relief valve,
high temperature limit switch,
low water cut-out,
backflow preventer,
pressure reducing valve (automatic water makeup),
automatic air vent,
primary control pump(circulator),
zone control,
outdoor air thermostat,
flow control valve,
isolating valve,
tankless coil,
radiator bleed valve,
radiator control valve,
air separator (air scoop),
aquastat,
open expansion tank,
closed expansion tank,
diaphragm (bladder) expansion tank,
side arm heater,
indirect water heater,
mixing valve(tempering valve),
condensing boilers.
9. Outline the life expectancies of boilers made of various materials.
10. Identify the codes or standards which apply to hot water heating systems in your area.
4.3.2 Inspection Skills for Oil Fired Heating Boilers
1. Describe the inspection procedure for hot water heating systems.
2. Identify the following common defects listed on the next page.
3. Describe the implication of each defect.
4. Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home (steam explosion, combustion product poisoning, electric shock, physical injury).
5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.
4.3 Hot Water Heating Boilers, Typical Defects Lists
(Burners are not covered in this section since they have been covered earlier)
4.3.1 Knowledge Base for Gas Fired Boilers
1. Describe the function of a hot water (hydronic) heating system.
2. Describe open and closed heating systems.
3. Describe four types of distribution piping (series loop, 1-pipe system, 2-pipe system - direct return, 2-pipe system - reverse return).
4. List the materials and components of a typical hot water heating system including fuel storage and supply system, burner, combustion air supply, venting, cabinet/body, heat exchanger, controls, expansion tank, pump (circulators), pipe, radiator, convector, baseboard, radiant heating.
5. Describe the features of adequate installation and repair technique for hot water heating systems.
6. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of hot watering heating relative to forced air heating.
7. Outline the differences between boilers and furnaces, including the normal operating cycles.
8. Define the following terms with respect to hot water boilers:
convection,
conduction,
radiation,
super heated water,
pressure relief valve,
high temperature limit switch,
low water cut-out, low water cutoff
backflow preventer,
pressure reducing valve (automatic water makeup),
automatic air vent,
primary control pump (circulator),
zone control, outdoor air thermostat,
flow control valve,
isolating valve,
tankless coil,
radiator bleed valve,
radiator control valve,
air separator (air scoop),
aquastat,
open expansion tank,
closed expansion tank,
diaphragm (bladder) expansion tank,
side arm heater,
indirect water heater,
mixing valve (tempering valve), anti-scald valve
condensing boilers.
9. Outline the life expectancies of boilers made of various materials.
10. Identify the codes or standards which apply to hot water heating systems in your area.
4.3.2 Inspection Skills for Gas Fired Boilers
1. Describe the inspection procedure for hot water heating systems.
2. Identify the following common defects listed on the next page.
3. Describe the implication of each defect.
4. Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home (steam explosion, combustion product poisoning, electric shock, physical injury).
5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.
HOT WATER BOILER TYPICAL DEFECTS
Gas Fired Boiler Heat Exchanger Defects
Clogged
Damaged
Leaks
Dirty
Rust
Scorching
Room Thermostat Defects - Gas Fired Hot Water Heat
Loose
Not level
Heat anticipator problems
Excess temperature rise
Poor adjustment or calibration
Poor location
Boiler Cabinet Defects
Combustible clearance
Mechanical damage
Missing components
Obstructed air intake
Leaks
Rust
Scorching
Rust
Oil-Fired Boiler Air Vent Defects
Too small
Waterlogged
Inoperative, damaged
Leaking
Poor location for tank
Poor discharge location for open tank
Hot Water Heating Circulator Pump or Relay Defects - Gas Fired Heating Systems
Missing
Obstructed
Hot
Inoperative
Leaks
Noisy
Oil-Fired Heating Boiler Expansion Tank Defects
Improper position, location, type
Leaks
Noisy
Waterlogged [DF]
Oil-Fired Heating Boiler Primary Control Defects
Burn marks visible on circuit board or other location
Hot Water Heating Piping Defects on Gas Fired Heating Boiler Systems
Crimped
Leaks
No insulation
Poor support
Rust
Oil-Fired Heating Boilers & Radiant Heating Systems
Balancing valve problems
Too small
Bleed valve problems
Cool rooms or parts of rooms
inoperative?
Oil-Fired Hot Water Heating Radiators, Convectors, Baseboards: Defects
Damaged baseboard fins
Noisy
Cold
Valves inoperative
Air bleeder missing, leaky, damaged
Bleed valve problems
Missing covers
Missing or removed heating sections or radiators
Leaks
Obstructed airflow
Poor location
Rust
Too small (cool rooms)
Tankless Coil on Oil-Fired Heating Boiler, Defects
Balancing valve problems
Leak
Cold
Rust
Poor hot water pressure or flow (clogged?)
Oil Burners, Oil Storage Tanks, Oil Piping: Typical Defects List
Heating Oil Storage Tank Defects
Abandoned, look for documentation of proper abandonment or signs of amateur work
Damaged or corroded
Empty
Leaks
Indoor tank used outdoors - Not suitable for outdoor use
Rusting
Inadequate support
Missing protection from vehicle damage
Unsafe location
Location too close to oil burner
Underground - investigate further for leaks, history, &c.
Oil-Fired Heater Combustion Chamber, Refractory / Fire Pot Defects
Crumbling, cracked, collapsed
Saturated
Oil soaked
Wet by boiler leaks
Oil Fired Heating Boiler Primary Control Defects List
Inoperative
Missing
Reset tripped, off on reset
Oil Tank Fill & Vent Piping Defects
Damaged or corroded
Leaks
Broken, missing tank gauge
Missing caps
Barometric Damper, Draft Regulator Defects List
Improper location
Inadequate draft, air
Inoperative
Wired shut
Mis-adjusted (hangs open, won't open)
Removed
Missing
Rusted
Spillage
Soot
Heating Oil Supply Piping & Valves: Defects List
Corrosion, damage, crimped
Leaks - air in, oil out
Undersized
Exposed to damage
Oil Fired Boiler Venting & Flue Vent Connector Defects List
Improper material
Inadequate combustible clearance
Poor support
Poor Slope
Poor Connections
Improper manifolding
Poor insertion into chimney - too far, leaky, not sealed
Signs of water down flue into equipment or vent connectors
Rust, dirty, obstructed
Vent connector too big, too small
Vent connector too long
Heating Oil Filter Defects List
Dirty
Leaky
Missing
Oil Fired Heating Boiler Combustion Air Defects List
Inadequate combustion air
Air supply lost when boiler room door shut
Air supply exposed to high dust, clothes dryer
Oil Fired Heating Boiler Oil Burner Defects List
Dirty
Corroded vents
Excess temperature rise
Poor vent location, arrangement
Reliability
Sooting
Burn marks on boiler or furnace
Odors
Noises
Dirty blower assembly
Dirt-obstructed air intake
Evidence of amateur adjustment to controls or parts
Vibrating
Mid-Efficiency Oil Boiler (or Furnace) Defects List
Incomplete combustion – soot
Red Tagged
Off on reset
Inoperative
Leaking
Short Cycling
Vibrating
Noisy
Too close to combustibles
Use the Search Box at the top or bottom of these pages to find in-depth information about building, energy savings, and indoor environment inspection, diagnosis and repair at this website.
Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here.
These curriculae and building defect lists are based on smilar curriculum documents first prepared by Joe Scaduto, an ASHI member who prepared course material for Northeastern University's Building Inspection Certificate program in 1988, subsequently by DF, InspectApedia's editor, for New York University ca 1988 and later, with others, recommended to ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
ASHI did not adopt this material though currently that association as well as others offer extensive HOME INSPECTOR EDUCATION material.
The curriculum and lists of defects are informed by additional analysis of the process of home inspection that was developed beginning Calgary, AB for Canadian and U.S. home inspector education and certification examinations in 1997. Other early contributors to home inspection education in the U.S. and Canada include Dr. Jess Aronstein, Alan Carson, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, John Cox, Dwight Barnett, Douglas Hansen, Rick Heyl, Larry Hoytt, Bill Merrill, Kevin O'Malley, Dennis Robitalille, Keith Peddie, Pat Porzio, Roger Robinson.
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
John Cranor [Website: /www.house-whisperer.com ] is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-873-8534 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
Roger Hankey is principal of Hankey and Brown Inspections, Winter Park, CO. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee and served in other ASHI chapter and national leadership roles. Mr. Hankey is a National Radon Proficiency Program certified measurement professional and a Level II infrared thermographer. Contact Roger Hankey at: 970-393-6604 - rogerhankey47@gmail.com . Website: www.HankeyandBrown.com
Mr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
Arlene Puentes [Website: www.octoberhome.com ] , an ASHI member and a licensed home inspector in Kingston, NY, and has served on ASHI national committees as well as HVASHI Chapter President. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
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.
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724
ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.