I can still clearly recall the day I launched my first company. We had invested a lot of money in enhancing the retail area, but we weren’t overly concerned with the warehouse. Unfortunately, once we got going, we realized we didn’t have enough heavy machinery in the back to keep everyone safe. We purchased new forklifts, pallet racking, and even non-slip mats to help us avoid issues. Although at the time it seemed expensive, it eventually paid for itself by preventing accidents. For more advice on securing your warehouse, visit my blog.
Large areas can be kept comfortably warm with heating oil, while small areas can be kept extremely warm. Of course, there are some risks associated with using heating oil, and owners of heating oil tanks and furnaces should be constantly alert for these risks. Here is what you should do if your heating oil tank catches fire while it is open.
Your heating oil tank has a sticker on it that reads “no smoking” or “no flames” for a reason. Even a tank that appears to be empty can catch fire if a few sparks are dropped inside. This is due to the fact that your heating oil is extremely flammable and even a small amount can cause a fire. The tiniest flame can enter the line between the tank and your furnace and burn any heating oil that may still be present there as it makes its way into your furnace. You won’t have to worry about any of the above if you stay away from open flames and burning things close to your heating oil tank.
I can still clearly recall the day I launched my first company. We had invested a lot of money in enhancing the retail area, but we weren’t overly concerned with the warehouse. Unfortunately, once we got going, we realized we didn’t have enough heavy machinery in the back to keep everyone safe. We purchased new forklifts, pallet racking, and even non-slip mats to help us avoid issues. Although at the time it seemed expensive, it eventually paid for itself by preventing accidents. For more advice on securing your warehouse, visit my blog.
You can try to put out the small fire yourself if you have a Class B (oil and grease) fire extinguisher or a fire extinguisher authorized for use on oil and grease fires. Although most heating oil fires are not discovered until they have blown into raging fires, you could try to put one out if you see one right away by using the fire extinguisher. Get as far away from the oil tank as you can if you can’t put out the fire or realized it too late. Immediately move everyone nearby to a safe area that is at least a few hundred yards away.
Oil fires are extremely dangerous. They can turn into explosions in a hurry. Get out and away from the fire as quickly as you can if you see your heating oil tank on fire and it is obviously burning quickly. If there are any nearby homes or buildings, try to warn them before calling the fire and rescue teams. Due to the possibility of debris flying everywhere after an explosion, seek shelter several hundred feet away. You must call firefighters right away to handle the situation as this type of fire will continue to burn until there is nothing left to fuel it.
Keep nothing near a heating system, including paper, clothing, drapery, or dried leaves. Keep combustible materials at least 3 feet away from your furnace or any other type of heating equipment.
A maintenance contract will also allow you to have regular inspections of your furnace. It can help you avoid any furnace fires and save you money over time. Contact the licensed HVAC experts at Drake Heating for more details.
Utilization of heating equipment rises as the colder weather sets in, and safety awareness should follow. Here are some precautions you can take this winter to ensure safe heating.
Creosote buildup in your chimney flue must be removed because it is flammable, and soot accumulation in your furnace flue as a result of inadequate ventilation can result in furnace flame rollouts, in which flames actually escape and roll out of a closed combustion area. The main contributor to this buildup is restricted oxygen, which can be brought on by clogged air filters or obstructions like bird nests or yard debris blocking your exterior vent.
A few years ago, FEMA reported that heating appliances like space heaters were the second highest cause of residential fires. It’s important to handle them according to manufacturers’ safety guidelines. These include:
Frequently, impurities in heating oil result in soot or other residue building up in the combustion chamber. Dust also accumulates in the chamber. According to HeatingOil, when this material accumulates, it catches fire and malfunctions the furnace. com. This issue can be avoided by performing routine maintenance and keeping the combustion chamber clean. If fires in the chamber become sufficiently large, they may ignite buildup in the vent pipes, igniting a dangerous and destructive chimney fire.
Fuel oil leaks into the combustion chamber when one of the oil furnace’s numerous sensors or valves malfunctions. This fuel accumulates during the times when there isn’t combustion in the chamber. When it does ignite once more, the extra fuel burns up all at once, resulting in an explosion known as a puff back, according to Inspectapedia. Puff backs are severe fires that go wrong and spread smoke and ash throughout the house. When one of these explosions occurs, turn off the furnace until it can be fixed.
Anything that prevents the heating oil from flowing to the nozzle spraying it into the chamber results in a misfire, making it impossible for the furnace to ignite. According to the Miura Company, the pump that delivers oil to the nozzle eventually wears out with repeated use. It could fail suddenly, resulting in sporadic misfires that are difficult to identify. At least once a year, filters that prevent oil-related debris from clogging the nozzle need to be replaced or cleaned. To avoid misfires, the oil nozzle itself must also be routinely cleaned and replaced.
Different types of ignitors are used in oil furnaces to ignite the fuel spray, producing either a spark or a hot element. These ignitors eventually need replacement. An ignitor starts to malfunction erratically and cause intermittent misfiring as it gets worn out or dirty from soot. When your furnace fails to start properly at random, check the ignitor for soot and look for cracks or wear. Your furnace’s manufacturer can provide you with information on the lifespan of your unit’s ignitor and where to buy replacements.
Waste or heating oil sprayed into the combustion chamber is burned in oil furnaces. A misfire happens when too much or too little fuel enters the chamber. Misfires cause sputtering or explosions in the burning process. Small, infrequent misfiring may not seem like a problem, but it is a sign that the furnace has serious issues.