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When I turned on the water this morning, I got a nasty and cold surprise.

Checked the heating system and it showed an alarm. After resetting it, it came back on but I did not trust it to work reliably. This is a 1993 year old oil heating and hot water system with a replacement burner from 2008.

Figured it's probably the ignition electrodes and I had spares since the last repair in 2018 so I got to work this evening. The electrodes did indeed look horrible. It's a miracle it worked this long and praise the Lord this didn't happen during winter.

Decided while I was in there, I'd replace the oil nozzle, of which I also had a spare. Pic related shows it was caked with residue and at the end of its useful life.

Works like a bought one again. Wife is very happy.

When I turned on the water this morning, I got a nasty and cold surprise. Checked the heating system and it showed an alarm. After resetting it, it came back on but I did not trust it to work reliably. This is a 1993 year old oil heating and hot water system with a replacement burner from 2008. Figured it's probably the ignition electrodes and I had spares since the last repair in 2018 so I got to work this evening. The electrodes did indeed look horrible. It's a miracle it worked this long and praise the Lord this didn't happen during winter. Decided while I was in there, I'd replace the oil nozzle, of which I also had a spare. Pic related shows it was caked with residue and at the end of its useful life. Works like a bought one again. Wife is very happy.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

All we want in Merica is for products like this to be repaired easily. Hell, most shit you can't even take apart without breaking it

[–] • 1 pt

Good on you. It is so satisfying to be able to handle this kind of stuff on your own. I don't think anyone under GenX can figure this stuff out.

[–] • 1 pt

Thanks, I try. Would hate to be completely at the mercy of someone else with all the technology that surrounds us these days.

[–] • 1 pt

Wow, those were well worn past their lifespan.

Getting ready to replace the inducer on the furnace here, it's still working but you can tell it's got dry bearings. Not bad for 25.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

I'm not familiar with 'inducer' in the context. Is it a fan of sorts? Yeah, 25 years is a great lifespan for those components you install and then forget about them.

[–] • 1 pt

The inducer motor and fan is an assembly that pumps the exhaust out of the combustion chamber in a natural or propane gas heating furnace when the waste heat and gasses from the combustion process aren't hot enough to exhaust convectively out of the chimney. This is an example: https://www.supplyhouse.com/Nordyne-903111-Inducer-Blower-Motor-Assembly-w-Gasket

This is necessary on 80/90+ efficiency devices because they are...well, efficient.

Natgas powered water heaters usually don't have this problem as they're just a kettle on a flame type systems.

[–] • 1 pt

I see. Thanks, you learn something new every day.