Comfort Zone News

back to article index

Ask Steve: Frequently Asked Questions

Steve LaPointe, Vice President of Operations

Q. “Do I need a chimney for oil heat systems?”
A. Some new systems do not require chimneys. In fact, the newest trend is to vent directly to the outside. This has a significant benefit since the boiler can be placed at a convenient location and does not need to be next to a chimney.

Q. “Can I determine the age and life expectancy for a heating system?”
A. One way to determine a system’s age is by checking the serial number; the date of manufacture is sometimes “hidden” within the serial number. Look for labels and tags near the unit. It’s possible that the installer tagged the system with the date of installation.

As far as longevity is concerned, oil-fired boilers and furnaces easily provide 20 years of service if properly maintained and serviced. Many units can last longer, if serviced properly. This can be somewhat misleading, however, since technological advancements in energy savings can render an older unit obsolete, even though it is still operating quite well.

Q. “How do you heat domestic hot water with oil?”
A. There are two kinds of oil-fired water heaters: direct-fired water heaters, and indirect that use the heating system water from the boiler to heat the domestic water.

A direct-fired water heater heats the water in a storage tank directly by the heat of the oil burner mounted on the outside of the tank.
You’ll usually find a direct-fired water heater in a home with a warm air furnace.

Indirect-fired water heaters heat the water in the home with a boiler. The boiler water heats the domestic water. The domestic water and boiler water are separated by a heat exchanger. The most common indirect method is the tankless coil. It is a coil of copper pipe inside the boiler. The water flows through the inside of the coil where it is heated by the boiler water surrounding it. It is then delivered to the faucets and appliances around the house.

A better and more efficient option uses a combination of a coil and a storage tank, particularly if more than an average amount of hot water is used. The boiler water flows through the coil and the domestic water is heated by the coil and stored in the tank until a faucet or appliance is turned on.

Q. “What is the future of oil heating equipment?”
A. Oilheat equipment manufacturers have made the most dramatic advances for what the National Oilheat Research Alliance calls “Intelligent Warmth.” You will find additional information at www.oilheatamerica.com. New oil-powered equipment is significantly cleaner burning and more efficient than it was thirty years ago.

Manufacturers are hard at work in their research laboratories today on technological improvements that will make oilheat even cleaner, more efficient, more reliable, and easier on the environment.

Q. “Has oilheat improved, and what is its impact on the environment?”
A. Over the last three decades, oilheat equipment has improved its environmental performance. Before the development of the modern oil burners, the emissions of particulate matter from an oilheat system were 10 pounds per 1000 gallons burned, or .1 percent. Today’s oilheat has significantly lowered its emissions. Now, only seven ounces is released for every thousand gallons burned, or .006 percent.