Oil Heaters: Troubleshooting Guide!

The working principle of oil heaters is based on the heating of cold air that passes between the columns or the metal fins of the heater. Today, there are a lot of modern heating appliances (that can work more efficient) to choose from, and even we can call oil heaters as the conventional heating appliances that work lower efficient in this modern living. However, there are still many people who use them to heat the unheated enclosed spaces, like in the basements or bedrooms. And if you have one of them and you feel there is a problem that causes your unit cannot work properly anymore, then you have to service it by calling and hiring a professional service. But before calling a professional service, it is better to troubleshoot your unit on your own, especially if there is only a simple problem that can be repaired not too difficultly on your own.

In fact, troubleshooting problems will helpful to minimize technical-problem issues and also helpful to draw attention and avoid set-up mistakes. Well, there may available many troubleshooting guides to troubleshoot your oil heater that you can find on internet, and the instructions can be vary (usually depending to the model and design of the unit itself). And below are simple & helpful tips on troubleshooting an oil heater:

1. First, make sure the power supply system of the heater work properly! Check the outlet to the electrical cord! There may be any power bars or extension cables on the way, if you find them then disconnect them! Make sure the outlet is properly to work, if necessary.
2. Take a look at the lamp of the heater’s outlet, test it and ensure that the electrical supply is properly working. If you think that it is no longer to work properly, consider checking breakers or fuses if possible.
3. Take a look at the switches that usually located on the side of the unit. Examine the performance of them! And then make sure they are in good condition. If the one of the heat-switches is ‘off’ then will lead to lower heat output.
4. Then check the performance of the thermostat! It is usually placed close the setting-heat switches (like mentioned in the step -3). Turn it to a higher level number. If the dial thermostat is set around 1 or 0, then the heater may produce insufficient heat and finally will lead to prematurely shutting-off problem.
5. Don’t forget to also check the performance of the timer, make sure it is correctly set up. As well we know that this feature has closely associated function to set the times when the thermostat must work or turn off. Poor performance of timer may lock the thermostat to work!
6. Then you also must ensure that the oil heater is positioned correctly and properly. The location to install & place the heater should have adequate space for air circulation, otherwise will lead to ‘shut off-turn on’ problem or will make the energy output is less powerful to heat the space. Therefore, place the unit far away from tight corners or any furniture that can obstruct for air circulation, because the adequate & properly air circulation is so important to support the performance of the fins of the heater. And avoid covering the unit while it is running!
7. In addition, if the unit still cannot work powerful on heating, make sure you use it in the right square-feet area! If you use it to heat too large room, it might less powerful! So, it is so important to consider the size of your oil heaters!

Read also troubleshooting guides for pool heater and baseboard heating unit!

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