FAQs

• #1 Do I need a waste oil heater?

  Yes, you probably do, especially if you have a big shop, have large heating bills, or generate a large amount of waste oil. Think about it before it’s 10° below zero.

• #2 Will a reconditioned heater pay for itself?

  Yes. Most people have a return on investment of 1–2 years. It depends on the amount of oil you generate, the size and type of shop, the type of insulation, etc. Your competitor down the road probably already knows this, so don’t give him your oil! You’ll just have to pay big gas bills.

• #3 What size heater will I need for my shop?

  145,000 BTU furnaces may heat shops up to 3,500 square feet. It depends on what type of shop you have. 220,000 BTU furnaces may heat shops up to 5,000 square feet. It depends on what type of shop you have. 350,000 BTU furnaces may heat shops up to 8,500 square feet. It depends on what type of shop you have. 500,000 BTU furnaces may heat shops up to 12,500 square feet. It depends on what type of shop you have. Call us for assistance.

• #4 How many gallons of oil does a heater use?

  One gallon of waste oil makes 140,000 BTUs of heat. Most heaters may average 50 – 70% daily run time. Some variables include the amount of insulation in the ceiling (open truss or flat insulated), what type of walls you have (cement block building), thermostat settings, days of winter, etc. Every gallon contains 140,000 BTUs of heat. Example: 140,000 BTU heater will burn approximately 1 gallon/hour. 280,000 = 2 gallons/hour etc.

• #5 What kind of oil can I burn?

  Most heater manufacturers recommend burning used crankcase oil, #1 & #2 fuel oils, hydraulic fluid, ATF, and synthetic oil (up to 25% blend). Never burn unlisted, wild fuels, parts washer fluid, or chlorinated solvents (like chlorinated brake fluid or brake clean), etc. See the owner’s manual.

• #6 Do I generate enough oil to justify a purchase?

  Typically, you should generate 500 – 700 gallons a year. The more you generate, the more you save.

• #7 How long will it take me to pay off my investment in a reconditioned waste oil heater?

  Thoughts to consider:

  • How much do you pay for your heat in winter?
  • How much will a reconditioned heater cost?
  • How much return on investment will I generate in 5–15 years?
  • Are you paying oil removal costs?

• #8 What is the current method of calculating my savings from a waste oil heater?

  • The present price of your fuel x gallons used per year = your present heat bill.
  • Consider different prices of different BTU fuels. Fuel oil $2.50 for 140,000 BTUs; Propane $3.50 for 140,000 BTUs; Natural gas $2.00 for 140,000 BTUs; Electric $4.50 for 140,000 BTUs; Free waste oil gives 140,000 BTUs per gallon.
  • Estimate the number of gallons used in a year and BTUs needed for a year. Then, figure out how many gallons of waste oil you will need to eliminate most or all of your heat bill.
  • Deduct the cost of waste oil removal from your winter’s heat bill.
  • Even if you get paid $0.30/gallon for your oil, you should burn it because it is worth up to $3 a gallon when used to heat your shop. Think seriously; your competitor’s shop knows how much savings it is.

• #9 Why recycle on site?

  • It is environmentally responsible.
  • It will eliminate or reduce your heating costs (free fuel).
  • You’ll have an outstanding return on investment.
  • It is an EPA-approved method of recycling.
  • It will eliminate your oil-removal cost.
  • It will save valuable resources.
  • It will eliminate your liability in the event of an oil spill by some hauler offsite.
  • It will give you peace of mind.

• #10 Do I have a 'cradle-to-grave' liability on my used oil?

  Yes, if you are generating used oil, you are responsible for it until it disappears off of the earth! This is in effect whether you burn it or send if off, and includes accidental spills or intentional dumping done by a used oil hauler. When you burn your own waste oil, you also save the expense of LP / Natural Gas and get free heat at the same time.

• #11 Has burning waste oil been approved by the EPA?

  Yes. There are 3 requirements:

  • The heater should burn only oil generated by the owner/operators. (You can accept oil from local do-it-yourself-ers.)
  • You should not produce more than 500,000 BTUs per furnace.
  • Your combustion gasses must be properly vented outside.
    Note: It is illegal to burn waste oil in New York City and California.

• #12 How does a waste oil heater work

  • Oil is pumped from your tank to the burner.
  • Oil and air are precisely heated and mixed in the burner’s preheater block and nozzle. When the wall thermostat calls for heat, it turns the burner on and efficiently sprays oil, air, and ignition at the correct ratio, producing a smoke-free flame. When the heat exchanger warms up, it turns the big fan on and warms the shop until the thermostat is satisfied. At that point, the flame automatically stops, and the unit cools down.

• #13 How long should a reconditioned waste oil heater last?

  It is like a vehicle, the better you care for it, the better it will last. With good care, you may get at least 10 years of life from it. Bad care includes Neglect, not cleaning out the ash, over firing, etc. Doing so will shorten the life of your heater. It is very important to clean out ash at proper intervals & fire it properly in order to make your heater last.

• #14 Do I need an emergency vent on my used oil tank?

  Yes. You need a UL-approved tank with an emergency vent. See our Clean Burn tank system at the bottom of the Clean Burn page. Also, see the tank vent; click here for a picture.

• #15 Do I need to preheat the oil in my tank?

  No. The oil is completely heated at the burner.

• #16 Can I have an outside tank for storing my oil?

  Yes, but only if it is done properly. Your pump needs to be inside, and it can pump oil at least 100′.

• #17 Can I duct the unit into my present ductwork?

  Only if the heater has a squirrel-cage blower on it.

• #18 Do I need a 'class A triple wall' (high-temperature all-fuel) stainless stack?

  Yes. Note: You don’t want to use an old chimney from a gas heater; it is not the right kind of stack.

• #19 Does a used oil heater smoke black?

  No, not if you are burning approved fuels and have your furnace adjusted properly. For help adjusting, go to our Technical Help page.

• #20 Do you have warranty protection?

  Yes, we cover the parts on the entire machine for 2 years (for most units). You will also receive a copy of this at the time of the sale. Ask a competitor if they will cover all the parts on the entire machine for 2 years. Click here for more complete details of our Warranty Terms and Conditions.

• #21 Should I remove my old source of heat?

  It is not recommended because:

  • You may run out of waste oil sometime.
  • Keeping your old heater will eliminate future emergencies.
  • You can’t reuse the stack from any other heater, anyway.
  • Just keep the thermostat down so it doesn’t come on except in emergencies.

• #22 How often do I have to clean the ash out of a waste oil heater?

  You should typically clean your furnace out every 250 – 500 hours. Click here for details. Just let your unit cool, remove the clean-out panels, vacuum out the ash, etc. See manual. Click here for our clean-out tools.

• #23 Where can I order parts after the sale?

  Central Ohio Heaters, Ltd. has almost all parts in stock for all major brands of heaters, and even the most obsolete parts are available. See our Parts page for more information.

• #24 How long will it take me to install my heater myself?

  Maybe a day. It depends on the location of your heater and tank, the type of building you have, where you put the stack, the air ducting needed, etc. Check out our tank units on our installation pictures page (for under heater). They reduce installation time. Even if you choose to install your unit yourself, Central Ohio Heaters, Ltd. recommends that you get your unit inspected by a licensed heating contractor to make sure your installation is safe and that all codes are met, etc.

• #25 Can I use a waste oil heater in my house?

  No, waste oil heaters are only approved for commercial applications.

• #26 Why do some people have so much trouble with their waste oil heater, and others have nearly none?

  Some people just plain over-fire their furnace (like 1 1/2 to 2 times the correct flame size). People do not have a meter pump to control the flow rate. In the old-style system, when the fuel got thinner, the flame would burn faster because the thin fuel went through the nozzle much faster, at the same pressure, and therefore made a bigger flame (without touching any adjustments). Do yourself a favor—see the new style cruise control meter pump at the bottom of our Parts page.

  People do not clean the ash out of their heater exchangers at proper intervals. When it is plugged, the heat can’t get out; it will destroy, warp, blister, or crack the heat exchanger. See #13 above. Clean ash out of the heater at proper intervals. People stir up the dirt in the bottom of their tank. Do not rush-fill your tank. Use a second settling tank. This will help everything to stay cleaner. (Some people fill the tank really fast while the heater is running; this stirs up the fine silt and mud in the bottom of the tank, which plugs filters, wears out pumps, and plugs up burners. Ever wonder why some people need to clean the nozzle daily? See photos of dirty internal parts from the inside of burners and damaged/dirty flame retention heads at the bottom of our Technical Help page. Also see #11 on the same page. We have burned at least 9,000 gallons without plugging filters, etc. Some people may need to clean once a week—get real.

• #27 Do you have mobile/on-site service?

  No. We don’t have time. Normally, people use their own mechanics. We provide a Technical Help page for most waste oil furnaces and free telephone help to our customers for 2 years after purchase.  You may view our tutorial videos at the bottom of our Clean Burn, Shenandoah, Reznor, and Lanair pages. We also have reconditioned burners in stock tested and ready to ups which helps eliminate your down time 

  Is there still a question we are missing? Give us your requests for consideration. Tell us what question you think we should be answering. Send it to this email. Thank you.