Who uses Heating oil #2 to heat their home? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Two560Two · #1 03-02-2009, 01:20 PM

Anybody here in the forums that use home heating oil #2 to heat their homes and use some type of additive for the oil or motor to keep the boiler in tip top shape? I was just curious if there was any products out there

raymr · #2 03-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Haven't heard of any. Just get an annual cleaning, nozzle replacement, and air shutter adjustment. If the boiler is too big for the house (most of them are) look into down sizing the nozzle GPH rating a size or two.

Brian Carlton · #3 03-02-2009, 02:11 PM

I heat with oil and maintain the system myself.

I add a bit of "sludge treat" to the oil to cut down on the slime in the tanks. A filter generally lasts one year..........barely.

The system is tuned for temperature throughout the year. Outside the heating season, the boiler is set at 135°. October, November, March, and April get a setting of 145°. December, January, and February get a setting of 155°. It works fine with the cast iron radiators which have huge BTU capability. There is a limitation on rate of climb and final temperature attained at these water temperatures.

LUVMBDiesels · #4 03-02-2009, 02:22 PM

My house up in New Paltz uses #2. I have had no issues with slime or have had to put in any additives. My filters last about two years. I also do the boiler temp adjustments during the year. In the dead of winter the temp has to be raised in order to get heat up to the farthest of the five zones...

I have the oil guys do the soot cleanup every fall.

Brian Carlton · #5 03-02-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I have the oil guys do the soot cleanup every fall.

They had done it here for years. Then, I finally watched them and timed them. They actually got the cleaning portion down to seven minutes. Like to take a guess how thorough they were?

I do it myself and it takes a solid hour to brush every possible surface of the tubes. The shopvac with the bag insert does a proper job on soot containment.

Carleton Hughes · #6 03-02-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I heat with oil and maintain the system myself.

I add a bit of "sludge treat" to the oil to cut down on the slime in the tanks. A filter generally lasts one year..........barely.

The system is tuned for temperature throughout the year. Outside the heating season, the boiler is set at 135°. October, November, March, and April get a setting of 145°. December, January, and February get a setting of 155°. It works fine with the cast iron radiators which have huge BTU capability. There is a limitation on rate of climb and final temperature attained at these water temperatures.

Indeed,I have a point spread on the aquastat of 135-150.
I also have an old Agway tank in the carriage barn with which I fuel my "diesels"....SShh.....

raymr · #7 03-02-2009, 02:42 PM

Just remember that prolonged boiler temps below 150* can cause corrosive acidic condensation in the flue and chimney. I stick with a high limit of 170*, and the low limit is varied by an aftermarket control unit.

Brian Carlton · #8 03-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

Just remember that prolonged boiler temps below 150* ..............

130° is the limit.

LUVMBDiesels · #9 03-02-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

They had done it here for years. Then, I finally watched them and timed them. They actually got the cleaning portion down to seven minutes. Like to take a guess how thorough they were?

I do it myself and it takes a solid hour to brush every possible surface of the tubes. The shopvac with the bag insert does a proper job on soot containment.

I would do it, but the house is rented out and it is part of the service contract with the heating oil guys.

Brian Carlton · #10 03-02-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I would do it, but the house is rented out and it is part of the service contract with the heating oil guys.

Yep..........know the feeling. The rentals are all under contract. But, I try to go to the rental then they do the cleaning...........you'd be amazed what they simply avoid doing...........too difficult.

raymr · #11 03-02-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

130° is the limit.

I didn't say how much below 150.

You are right. That is the absolute low limit before the bad stuff condenses inside. As long as the returning cold water from the house doesn't plunge the boiler temperature down too far, and the burner can bring it back up in time, it should be OK. I rather avoid the issue entirely. Our system is still (mostly) the original from 1965.

unkl300d · #12 03-02-2009, 03:16 PM

This is interesting. My brother's home in Trumbull,CT uses oil for heting but I have no idea what oil grade.

How many grades are there??
I wish I could chat him up on the technical aspects but he's not that open...

Brian Carlton · #13 03-02-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

I didn't say how much below 150.

You are right. That is the absolute low limit before the bad stuff condenses inside. As long as the returning cold water from the house doesn't plunge the boiler temperature down too far, and the burner can bring it back up in time, it should be OK. I rather avoid the issue entirely. Our system is still (mostly) the original from 1965.

I have the problem with plunging boiler temps with the return water from the cast iron radiators. They can suck BTU's from the boiler at incredible speed.

I finally resorted to a gravity feet system...........no circulator running unless it's below 20F.............and the boiler stays ahead of the house under most conditions. Furthermore, the rooms (the house has nine zones) do not suffer from overshoot which is common with the cast iron.

pawoSD · #14 03-02-2009, 03:40 PM

No natural gas available 'round those parts? Sounds like a lot of hassle....

Brian Carlton · #15 03-02-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

No natural gas available 'round those parts? Sounds like a lot of hassle....

I do have natural gas. It was traditionally more costly to heat with gas. At a fuel oil price of $2.30, it's about on par.

Our price now is about $1.75.