How to Make a Kerosene Boiler More Efficient
A boiler is, for many homes, an indispensable heat source that can turn a frigid home into a comfortable one. But boilers can also be cost prohibitive, particularly if homeowners use them in an inefficient manner. By making a few careful considerations of the way kerosene boilers work, homeowners can easily understand how to use these appliances to their fullest potential and without energy bills soaring out of control Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Install a vent damper. One of the most common ways in which kerosene and other types of boilers lose efficiency is through heat loss up the ventilation chimney. Installing a vent damper on the boiler itself will close a boiler's vent when the boiler is not firing, thereby preventing heat losses through the chimney.
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Purchase and install a smaller oil burner. Older kerosene boilers were often built with oil burners that were too large for the furnace, leading to inefficient burning. Installing a smaller (derated) burner can reduce you boiler's energy consumption by as much as 10 percent at a fairly marginal installation cost.
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Install a modulating aquastat. These devices keep the water inside a boiler at a lower temperature during the times of year when hot water demands are typically less, such as during spring and fall. Aquastats tend to cost a few hundred dollars, but can reduce the energy consumed by your boiler by as much as 10 percent.
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