How to Avoid Mechanical Problems With Your Waste Oil System
Waste oil systems are an exceedingly great option for commercial property owners who are looking to save on their heating system and install a more environmentally friendly heating system. Waste oil systems allow businesses, like mechanics, to effectively recycle the waste oil generated by their own daily operations. Waste oil systems, either a boiler or furnace, can be installed to increase efficiency, lower costs, and keep employees and customers comfortable while on your property.
Waste oil systems are typically easy to maintain so that they will reliably last you for years to come. However, there are two major rules that apply to business owners who want to avoid mechanical problems with their waste oil system.
How You Can Avoid Mechanical Problems With Your Waste Oil System
In addition to getting your waste oil system regular maintenance by your team, there are a few things that you can do to avoid any large mechanical problems with your waste oil system.
Make Sure Condensation Does Not Gather
Waste oil burners are able to be so efficient because they are able to generate heat from oil generated by business operations. This differs from other heating systems, which can be reliant on natural gas, to generate warmth on commercial properties.
However, waste oil systems are not able to run properly if there is water running through the system.
Waste oil tanks can be prone to allowing condensation of water along the interior walls of the tank if not properly maintained. This includes installing it in a space that doesn’t have large fluctuations in light and temperature, which can cause condensation to form.
If condensation is allowed to build up within your waste oil system, you may end up dealing with rust problems in addition to more serious mechanical failings.
Don’t Skip Out On Yearly Maintenance
In the past we have seen companies decide to go a year or two without having general maintenance performed on their unit. In most cases, this results in more repairs which are equal to a higher operating cost.
Over time, the burner builds sludge and the heat exchanger fills with ash. This all results to a heavier and more intense maintenance, which, in turn, equals a higher cost to bring that unit back into correct operation.
Not to mention that the greater the amount of ash build up, the more fuel you’re actually wasting. The ash acts like an insulator and it will absorb the heat.
A build up of ash does two things that directly affect the end user:
- They get cooler air coming from the unit, which keeps the unit running longer because the temperature is never being satisfied. This leads to even more fuel waste.
- You are now overheating the heat exchanger, causing unnecessary wear and tear, which could lead to premature failure.
Don’t Add in Unknown Types of Fuel
Waste oil units are only able to work exclusively with transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, diesel, and fuel oil, or another approved fuel source.
If you are running low on usable waste oil, make sure you have the information of a supplier who can help refill your waste oil tank. In some cases, you may be critically low on fuel and try to find something suitable to fill your system with so that it can continue running.
Adding in fuel whose source and composition you aren’t exactly sure of can be a dangerous practice that could result in mechanical failures, a lack of heat, or even damage to your property.
Overall, avoiding mechanical problems with your waste oil system boils down to scheduling regular maintenance and being a responsible user of waste oil as your source of heat. If you’d like additional information regarding waste oil systems, don’t hesitate to contact us.
