NATE Oil Heating

Question 1

What component in an oil burner atomizes the fuel oil and mixes it with air for combustion?

Accepted Answer

Nozzle

Answer

Electrodes

Answer

Oil pump

Answer

Cad cell

Question 2

What is the function of the cad cell (cadmium sulfide cell) in an oil burner primary control?

Accepted Answer

Sense the presence or absence of a flame by its resistance to light

Answer

Measure oil pump pressure

Answer

Control the firing rate of the burner

Answer

Monitor stack temperature

Question 3

What is the primary control's 'safety timing' function on an oil furnace?

Accepted Answer

Allow a limited time for ignition then shut down the burner if no flame is proven

Answer

Prevent the burner from firing more than 3 times per hour

Answer

Control circulator pump timing

Answer

Purge the combustion chamber before ignition

Question 4

What annual maintenance item is most critical for oil burner efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Replacing the nozzle and cleaning the strainer, electrodes, and heat exchanger

Answer

Replacing the transformer

Answer

Adjusting the thermostat anticipator

Answer

Flushing the oil tank

Question 5

What does a smoke tester (Bacharach pump) measure on an oil burner?

Accepted Answer

Carbon soot level in flue gases by comparing a filter paper sample to a standard scale

Answer

Stack gas CO2 percentage

Answer

Combustion air temperature

Answer

Oil pump pressure

Question 6

What is the typical oil pump pressure setting for a residential oil burner?

Accepted Answer

100–150 PSI

Answer

50–60 PSI

Answer

200–300 PSI

Answer

25–40 PSI