should only be used when measured ambient temperature is 80 ° F or better. If your test is questioned, it is probably better in these days of consumer awareness and energy auditing to be lower than higher.
A good way to confirm basement temperature is to simply carry one in your kit a regular wall thermometer or a pocket thermometer will do.
Okay, that’ s the meat and potatoes of this subject now let’ s look at the changes you’ ll probably have to make. The Bacharach Tempoint, Figure 2, is just a regular thermometer measuring 200-1000 ° F. You can replace it with any thermometer that has an equal or greater range for a lot less money, Figure 12.
The Bacharach MZF, Figure 4, has been discontinued. There are so many options available today, from electronic manometers to all kinds of wet and dry instruments, but in my opinion
Figure 12
the Dwyer Magnehelic, Figure 13, is the best way to go. My first one lasted me 53 years, can’ t beat that and for under $ 200.00. one. But, before you replace it shop around, there’ s lots of replacements and some are a lot less money, Figure 14.
Well, that’ s it and again I am not recommending going back to these kits, just offering my help to those who do and also giving some other options to all those who test. Keep in mind the single most important selling point of electronic analyzers is the speed that they can deliver the numbers, but the wet-kit is just as accurate. If you do use an electronic analyzer, Figure 15, you still need a draft gauge and a smoke tester, so there ya go, options. See ya! l FON
Figure 14
Figure 15
George Lanthier is the owner of Firedragon Academy( www. FiredragonEnt. com), a 35-yearold Massachusetts Certified School teaching gas, oil and other heating subjects. The Academy has its training facility in Webster, Massachusetts. Lanthier is the author of more than 60 books and manuals on HVAC subjects, published by Firedragon. Lanthier is a CETP, ESCO, NATE, NORA, PMAA and PMEF Proctor and has been a Massachusetts Certified Instructor since 1975.
Figure 13
The Dwyer wet-type shown in Figure 5 is still available and for under $ 60.00. Only disadvantage to this is the gauge oil and if you forget to close the valves it can make a mess, believe me on this I’ ve done it.
The Bacharach smoke tester, Figure 6, is still around because if you test with an electronic analyzer, you still need www. fueloilnews. com | FUEL OIL NEWS | FEBRUARY 2026 23