There are several different heating systems available for homes, and home oil is among the most popular. If you use an oil-fired heating system or are thinking of installing one, you will want to be familiar with how it works so you can better understand its function, maintenance, and safety.
Triggering the Heating Process
Oil-fired heating systems use home oil to distribute heat either through steam in your radiator, hot water in the baseboard, or warm air in the vent. The thermostat monitors the temperature and notes whether it drops below your preset temperature. When this happens, it signals to the heating system that you need to increase the temperature.
Sending the Heat
The oil burner turns on and a pump sends the home oil from your tank to your burner. At the burner, it turns into a fine mist that is mixed in the air. The mixture of air and fuel can then be injected into your oil burner’s combustion chamber where it ignites.
In water-based systems, the water gets heated in a boiler before being dispersed. Hot water systems send it through the baseboards and radiators while steam systems convert it to steam before putting it out through the radiators. The other type of system that uses home oil is a warm air system. In this case, the furnace heats the air, which is then sent through your ducts by a blower. It then leaves the vents in your home before new air is drawn by your furnace to repeat the cycle.