We're alive, but our house is filled with smoke. *UPDATE*

[SuiteDisney]

Gene thinks the problem is with the oil burner (which is only 4 years old). I don't know what happened. I was sound asleep and he yelled, "Wake up! I think we had a chimney fire!) But there's no sign of a chimney fire, just a smoky house. The smoke isn't thick, but it's everywhere.

Gene is heading outside to see if the chimney that leads from the heater is clogged by snow, but I'm not hopeful. We never did remove our woodburning stove, even though we haven't used it since we had the heater put in, but I don't know how much wood we have. I know it's not a lot.

I don't know what else to do. It's not like we can call someone to come out and service the heater, and the roads aren't in good condition to drive somewhere. Gene and Justin are gathering up the wood we still have. (They're not chopping up my computer cabinet!!!)

UPDATE:
The heater dude just called and they're on their way! YIPPE!

 

[C.Ann]

You really should call the fire dept. just in case.. My parents had a similar experience years ago and there was a slow burning fire in the wall.. Also, crack your windows as you don't know "what" the smoke is from and it could be toxic..

Stay safe and keep us posted!!!!!

 

[Goofyposter]

Laura....definitely check for any obstruction or flow reduction in the venting system....have you had alot of wind? it may be possilbe that a backdraft forced the smoke into the duct system....I'm assuming this is a forced hot air furnance?...when was the last time the oil burner was cleaned/serviced?

assuming the furnance is still runing...try to see what the source of the smoke in the house is...ie from the ducts....or rising out around the furnance itself....also....for safety....be mindful and aware of the symptoms to be watchful for against carbon monoxide posioning.

the two most likely causes I can (without coffee yet) think of is either an obstructed/reduced exhauste...or a very ineffiencent combustion going on...PLEASE keep us posted....

 

[Goofyposter]

C Ann brings up a good point....just how confident are you that the source is in fact from the furnance?...does the smoke have a petroleum smell?

 

[oldkicker]

Laura - be safe - call the fire dept to be sure!!!

 

[SuiteDisney]

Gene has turned the heater off. We noticed a strange smell yesterday, but it didn't last. Gene changed the filter in the heater then. He checked it this morning and the new filter was black.

There's no other evidence of fire and Gene is sure it's the heater.

 

[Goofyposter]

Gene changed the filter in the heater then. He checked it this morning and the new filter was black.

Laura...which filter (there is several)...is the one Gene replaced..the air filter which would likely look like a big square thing about 1" thick?....is that the one?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would be scared to run it!

 

[helenabear]

I would be scared too and I think I'd be calling the fire department just to be safe. I hope everything turns out okay for you all.

 

[NHAnn]

YIKES!
I agree with calling the fire department!
Keep us posted when you have a chance !

 

[SuiteDisney]

Yes, GP, it's the air filter.

We live out in the boonies and have a volunteer fire department. I'm not going to call them out and have them risk themselves in this weather when I'm sure there's no fire.

 

[zurgswife]

Good luck Laura.....Hope you can keep warm until your heater is fixed...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hoping you guys are safe, and warm, Laura. Take care. Thanks for the updates.

 

[Goofyposter]

Yes, GP, it's the air filter

OK...well then it's a fair bet what you have is definatly a combustion problem....possible causes are:

1) a partly pluged nozzel in the gun assembly which is causing a bad spray pattern

2) Spacing of the electrodes is wrong causing a bad burn (or partial burn) of the spray

-->did you get an oil delievery yesterday? and was your tank quite low? if so...it's possible that the delievery may have stirred sediment up off the bottom of your tank and into the nozzel.

-->this might be confirmed by checking the in-line filter...on the oil supply line (maybe near tank...or just before the oil line enters the burner assembly. (note..if Gene checks this...the line will need to be shut off...bleed..and then reprimed to restart)

-->The electrons being mis-spaced isn't too likely unless you had really recent service....they both are working (or you'd really have seen soot in the house)...but if one is weak...that can cause bad combustion.

If Gene isn't comfortable in working on the furnance....(for for pete's sake if he does...make SURE he turns off the emergency switch...as the transformer on the burner can energize if the system makes a demand...and it's electricity enough to kill a man.)

then I'd definately try calling your local supplier....I'm sure they can make it out to you some time reasonalby soon.

There is one other possibility....a device called a cad eye...which is a safety device (to prevent delayed ignition) ..that eye might be partial dirty and causeing this.

I hope this helps!
when in doubt it is best not to try to run this...

 

[SuiteDisney]

WOW, GP, how do you know all this??? I sure do appreciate all the info, but we're both pretty ignorant about furnaces and how they work. We did get a call back from a local company. They haven't had any trucks out since yesterday. If they do get some trucks on the road, they're going to service people with service contracts with them first, and they they'll try to get to us.

It doesn't look like we're going anywhere, so I think I'll bundle up and snooze for a while and hope that we get another phone call saying someone will come out.

 

[betz]

Do you have a CO2 Detector in your house?
I would not risk the threat, a deadly threat at that, of Carbon Monoxide building up in your system. Even though you have been in the house for awhile, sometimes CO2 slowly builds up in your system, and then when you realize the problem, if you are able realize the problem at all, it could possibly be too late!
If my home had filled with smoke, especially from an unknown source, we would have all evacuated the premises and the Fire Dept, volunteer here too, would have been called!
Better safe than sorry and call the Fire Dept.!
My brother is a Volunteer Fireman in the NorthWest Hills of CT. They live to save lives. He is out there in the boonies too and has driven through storms as bad if not worse than the one we are having now. They Live to Save Lives!
Be Safe ~ Not Sorry!

 

[Mskanga]

I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble Laura, it seems that these things always break down at times like this. We also have alternative heating , we usually use the propane furnace but we also still have electric heat, the only problem is if we loose power we loose both heating systems because the furnace needs the power for the pump. We also have two fireplaces and we also have a comercial propane unit in the basement that we use as a last resort , we used it yesterday in the basement for the frozen pipe and it runs with the little gas grill tanks. It's very important to have more than one source of heat in these areas of the north.

 

[newmousecateer]

Laura, stay safe and warm. Hope they can come look at it soon.

GP - I sure know who I'm PMing when there is a problem.

 

[Saffron]

Oh no. I'm glad you're all safe. I hope you have enough wood to last a day or two until you can get someone out there. Stay warm Laura. It's a good day for staying under the covers.

 

[CRB#33]

Be careful! That's wonderful info, GP!

Keep warm too!