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Keeping the heat coming
Winter's cold temperatures take a toll on heating fuel by Derek Neary
NNSL (Feb 06/98) - When you bump the thermostat up a couple of degrees, you expect to hear the furnace kick in and trust you will soon feel heat.
That hasn't always been the case for some Yellowknife residents this winter. The cold temperatures in December and January wreaked havoc with their oil tanks and furnaces, which had been filled accidentally with summer P-40 fuel.
The problem lies with the higher wax content found in summer fuel, according to Shawn Delaney, agent for North Shore Petroleum.
Wax particles in summer fuel begin to thicken at about -42 C as opposed to -50 C for P-50 grade fuel, also known as stove oil, which is more highly refined and so containing fewer wax particles.
As a result, P-50 oil works better in cold temperatures. But the trade-off, according to Delaney, is that P-50 fuel doesn't give off as much heat. Greater consumption is needed to generate an equal amount of heat and it ends up costing more.
Fred Leonardis, owner of JSL mechanical, said in extremely cold conditions, the fuel pump can't generate enough pressure to draw in the thickened fuel. This starves the burner and the furnace shuts down.
The remedy can be as simple as a fuel additive, according to Leonardis. Another possibility would be to warm the fuel line. Sometimes, this can be accomplished with a hair dryer. On other occasions, electrical heat tape is required. In worst-case scenarios, the line has to be replaced. The repair costs can range from $200 to $2,000.
Other problems encountered by some customers include condensation and dirt in their tanks. Water can dilute the fuel, causing it to thicken easily in cold temperatures. Leonardis said he recommends customers have their tanks drained and fuel replaced each summer to prevent such a thing. |