Frequently Asked Questions
about waste oil heaters
Clean Energy Waste Oil Furnace/Boiler Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Waste Oil?
Generally used crankcase motor oil, hydraulic fluid, ATF, limited amounts of gear lube and synthetic oil. But you may also supplement your oil with #1, #2 or diesel fuel oil without any required adjustments.
How much waste oil do I need for the unit to be a practical choice?
The minimum volume that we suggest is 400 to 500 gallons per year. You can also supplement #2 fuel oil or diesel if you are running short on waste oil.
What size furnace should I choose for my shop?
That depends on many factors. How you use your shop, the size, the amount of doors/windows, how frequently doors are open and for how long are just a few of the variables. A free site visit by our sales representative will answer any sizing questions. Don’t oversize but also don’t undersize.
Where can I get Waste oil?
Most of your oil should be generated by your business from your vehicles, equipment and machinery. You can also accept oil from outside sources providing it is not contaminated. Also used waste oil can be purchased from a waste oil broker generally at a greatly reduced price over #2 heating oil.
Is a waste oil furnace dirty?
No. Clean Energy Heating Systems furnaces and boilers in particular burn very clean. No smoke and no unusual smells. Any impurities in the waste oil are turned into ash. Our units have vertical flue tubes that allow ash to fall into a clean out pan.
Has burning waste oil been approved by the EPA?
Yes. But with 3 requirements.
#1) The heater/boiler should burn only oil generated by the owner/operator. You can accept oil from local do-it-yourselfers.
#2) You can not produce more than 500,000 BTU’s per furnace.
#3) Your combustion gasses must be properly vented outside.
Can I use a waste oil furnace in my house?
No, waste oil heaters are only approved for commercial applications.
How many gallons of waste oil does a heater use?
That depends on the size of the unit. The unit CE-140 with 140,000 BTU’S output burns 1 gallon per hour, a Model CE-330 with 330,000 BTU’S output burns 2.3 gallons per hour. Keep in mind that is burn time, most heaters may average only 50% or less burn time per hour per day.
Will a waste oil furnace pay for itself?
Yes! We have seen many examples of a complete payback in as little as 10 months. Most all of our customers have a full payback within 1-2 years. It depends on the amount of oil you generate, the size and type of shop, type of insulation etc. We can perform a return on investment projection with some information from you to help you make your choice.
How long should a waste oil furnace last?
As with anything, the better you care for the unit the better it will run and the longer it will last. With good care it should last 10-15 years. Bad care includes, improper installation and conditions that do not allow proper operation, not performing normal cleaning, tuning and maintenance, over-firing etc. Doing so will shorten the life of your heater. It is very important to clean out the ash at proper intervals and fire the unit properly.
How often do I have to clean the ash out of the furnace?
Typically you should clean your furnace out 1000 hours of operation. We strive to size your furnace so that this is required only once per year. A very cold winter or setting the thermostat at an unusually high setting can alter this. On a Clean Energy Furnace this cleaning is performed without tools and can be done within 30 minutes with a good shop vac and a particle mask. No other furnace on the market is as simple to clean.
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 its final disposal. If you have the oil hauled off site by a licensed hauler you are still responsible for any accidental spills or intentional dumping. With a Clean Energy waste oil furnace your burning on site eliminates this liability and also heats your facility.
Can I duct the unit into my present duct-work?
Yes. All Clean Energy units are equipped standard with a squirrel-cage blower thereby allowing easy connection. Proper sizing of the duct-work must be maintained based upon the CFM and static pressure requirements of the desired unit.
Can my oil storage tank be located outdoors?
We would advise you to avoid an outdoor tank, but in certain circumstances we have used outdoor tanks. Alternate installation procedures will help or eliminate the inherent problems of an outdoor tank. Each installation will be addressed individually.
What is your warranty?
The best in the business! A full non-pro rated 10 year repair or replacement combustion chamber/ heat exchanger warranty. A full two year full parts warranty. With a purchase from The Griffith Co. any and all labor or road call charges are also covered during the warranty period. Full warranty details are available upon request.
Why do some people have so much trouble with their waste oil heaters, and others have nearly none?
This is probably the most important question of all. And the answer is very simple.
#1) Purchase the best quality furnace with the best quality components.
#2) Size the unit correctly for the application.
#3) Install the unit properly while paying attention to any unique problems that may exist in the building. (draft, possible contaminants in fuel, stacking etc.) Trust the advice given by professionals.
#4) Burn only the fuels that the unit is intended to burn.
#5) Perform the required maintenance yearly or as needed.
Contact Griffith Company Inc.
We are happy to visit your facility and provide a detailed quote.