oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

We have a Levitt home in which the furnace (burner) is still in the kitchen. Besides being in the kitchen it is the original furnace from when the house was built ( 50+) years and still running.

Since this is our 1st winter in the home we are new to everything.

Now that the furnace has been running more and more we noticed that every so often there is black soot around the cabinet the furnace is in. Does anyone else get this? How much is too much? I am sure this isn't good for your health but so far the 3 people I talked to say they all get some.

Starting to get paranoid every time I cough thinking its because of that.

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

I grew up in a ranch that had the original burner. Vaguely remember there being some soot occasionally, but nothing we were worried about. We also had an electric hot water heater so the burner was only taxed in the winter months.

Did your oil company come out for annual boiler service yet? If not, ask the service guy about it when they come.

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

Yes I would have the boiler serviced and find out what the deal with the soot is. Get an expert's opinion.

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

yea go have it get serviced

we just had the boiler itself .. no cabinets around it..

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

Also get a carbon monoxide detector

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

Thanks everyone.

We do have a carbon monoxide detector and so far it hasn't registered anything because of the burner.

The service technician came and changed the ignitors and transformer. We were having another problem as well, but he said if the oil is not igniting and burning properly you will get that soot.

But because this is such an old burner, they do not even make seals for them, that you have to expect some soot. They said its not really airborne since its so heavy which is why we only find it on the brick behind and the cabinet around.

Trying to hold out till summer and save up for a new burner and relocating it into the garage.

Anyone do this and can recommend someone? What are the prices?

Where did you buy your burners, the oil companies, plumbers or hardware store?

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes

We recently put a tank in our basement and put in a new boiler. We used Laco. They had good prices, and their service is excellent! The day we moved in the boiler went and they came, glued it for the night and then put a new one in the next day.

Happy homeowning!

Re: oil burners in kitchen / Levitt homes