Oil Burner Story

TheProfessor · 02-04-2023, 11:22 AM

Story about a few years/decades ago.

Oil hot air fan system.
Was about 10 years old at time.

Sunday. In January.
No heat.
Called oil company.
The owner of oil company came over Sunday night.
Checked everything.
Stated that I needed a new system.
That - Monday morning - next day - he would send his crew over to take out old and put in new system. Complete unit.
For many thousands of dollars.

Not knowing anything about heating systems at that time. I agreed.

AND or BUT

Upon walking upstairs from basement. I suggested that we check the thermostat. The old type Honeywell round one with mercury inside.

Low and behold. The thermostat was inoperative. Broken - inoperative - not working thermostat. Replaced thermostat right then and there.

Replaced thermostat and all worked perfectly. It was my suggestion to check thermostat.

Go figure ! ! !

ITD · 02-04-2023, 11:28 AM

Hopefully that guy doesn't service your heating any more.

BroadHopper · 02-04-2023, 12:27 PM

Hopefully, it was an efficient burner. Tax credits and rebates were plentiful back then. I read in the news most installers pocket the rebates and not tell the customers about the tax credits.

Just installed another Nest thermostat in the BR and receive a $100 rebate from energysaves.

John Mercier · 02-04-2023, 06:16 PM

Did sell quite a few thermostats in the last week...
I wonder if this might have been one of the reasons.

I guess we really never imagine that something so simple would be the culprit.

02-04-2023, 11:22 AM	#1
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,146 Thanks: 17 Thanked 351 Times in 212 Posts	Oil Burner Story Story about a few years/decades ago. Oil hot air fan system. Was about 10 years old at time. Sunday. In January. No heat. Called oil company. The owner of oil company came over Sunday night. Checked everything. Stated that I needed a new system. That - Monday morning - next day - he would send his crew over to take out old and put in new system. Complete unit. For many thousands of dollars. Not knowing anything about heating systems at that time. I agreed. AND or BUT Upon walking upstairs from basement. I suggested that we check the thermostat. The old type Honeywell round one with mercury inside. Low and behold. The thermostat was inoperative. Broken - inoperative - not working thermostat. Replaced thermostat right then and there. Replaced thermostat and all worked perfectly. It was my suggestion to check thermostat. Go figure ! ! !

02-04-2023, 12:27 PM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,616 Thanks: 3,245 Thanked 1,115 Times in 801 Posts	Hopefully, it was an efficient burner. Tax credits and rebates were plentiful back then. I read in the news most installers pocket the rebates and not tell the customers about the tax credits. Just installed another Nest thermostat in the BR and receive a $100 rebate from energysaves. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

02-04-2023, 11:28 AM	#2
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,942 Thanks: 483 Thanked 700 Times in 391 Posts	Hopefully that guy doesn't service your heating any more.

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02-04-2023, 06:16 PM	#4
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,571 Thanks: 3 Thanked 637 Times in 524 Posts	Did sell quite a few thermostats in the last week... I wonder if this might have been one of the reasons. I guess we really never imagine that something so simple would be the culprit.