BY GEORGE LANTHIER

If the industry is truly successful and survives in the era of non-fossil fuels then the service procedures used should also have to change . If the fuel truly does remain cleaner as well as the equipment burned into then less service will be needed . These changes should be reflective of these changes showing homeowners a truly more reliable and cleaner burning fuel . Add to this an everincreasing shortage of technicians and those to teach them and a different path must be chosen .

This procedure is a suggestion for those who wish to service new equipment on a gallonage basis rather than an annual basis . It is best introduced , suggested and explained at the time of sale to a consumer purchasing new heating equipment .

It should be used only on boilers and furnaces and should not be used on freestanding water heaters .

It is meant to replace the annual tuneup procedure traditionally used by the industry for a home burning between 200 and 1500 gallons annually . The tune-up should be programmed by the oil department computer and be based on 3,000 gallons of total fuel usage . Since it is based on gallonage rather than time , it assumes that the customer has new equipment installed and can be used for the first 10-15 years of service life .

The equipment must be equipped with a flame-retention head burner and have a minimum of double filtration , Figure 1 , consisting of a 25-micron filter at the tank and 10 micron or less filter at the pump properly sized for ‘ gallon per year ’ flow and based on the Total Gear Suction Capacity of the fuel pump . It is ideal for one pipe systems .

SPECIAL NOTE : This procedure once started should be continued unless the job returns to an annual service basis

or if more frequent service is required . Equipment over 15-20 years old should always be serviced more frequently , and the suggestion of reprogramming both the consumer and computer to a 2500-gallon interval is highly recommended .

1 . PRE-ARRIVAL

Wash your hands and clean your shoes before arriving at a customer ’ s home . Also check the condition of your face and clothes . The use of coveralls while on the job will help to keep your service uniform more presentable .

2 . THE CUSTOMER

The customer is almost never right but deserves to be interviewed to see how things have gone since the previous service . Notes should be made about specific concerns , previous problems and attitude towards the company . Any complaints should be reported to management or sales for follow-up .

3 . THERMOSTAT

Check the thermostat . Before crossing a customer ’ s rugs use booties or remove

Figure 1

your shoes . Be careful of the walls and furniture around the thermostat . Wash the thermostat cover with a mild solvent or soap and be careful not to overuse the cleaning agent . Verify it is level and clean inside on older models . Raise the thermostat to its highest setting canceling out the need to use a jumper . This is also a good idea since you can ’ t leave it behind .

4 . PREVENTION

If you need to disconnect any appliance in the home , tie it in a knot with whatever you plug in . You just might save someone a freezer full of food and yourself a lot of aggravation .

5 . COMBUSTION PRE-TEST

Perform a complete test of the combustion characteristics of the appliance . Record , or print , all readings noting efficiency and operation . Perform Lanthier Scale Test of cad-cell operation using an ohmmeter or primary control , and record the reading .

6 . TANK INSPECTION

With inside and accessible outside tanks

28 SEPTEMBER 2024 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com