[swestgate33]

Purchased a new oil furnace about 7 years ago. Found out last week that not only has the original installer never put an oil filter on, but the guys who do the yearly maintenance never mentioned this to me ever. In fact, I had the oil guy out yesterday. I let him do his thing in the basement and when he finished he said everything was good. When I questioned him about the oil filter, he gave me his BS story on the history of oil filters then tells me it's not a big deal and wait till next year to get it done.

Is this normal? Should I wait till next year? Should I be flipping out?

 

[ron45]

" flipping out ", Noooooo.
Look at your manual...

 

[joecaption]

So why not add one?
I sure would want one.

 

[Tom738]

If you ever burn down to the dregs or get crap into your tank somehow, you have to replace your oil filter... and you haven't burned nearly as much of the dregs that are going to stink up your house and make the nozzle and such harder to clean. Filters are good. But check the manual.

It probably rarely matters if you keep your tank topped off and it's not a really old tank.

 

[beenthere]

Purchased a new oil furnace about 7 years ago. Found out last week that not only has the original installer never put an oil filter on, but the guys who do the yearly maintenance never mentioned this to me ever. In fact, I had the oil guy out yesterday. I let him do his thing in the basement and when he finished he said everything was good. When I questioned him about the oil filter, he gave me his BS story on the history of oil filters then tells me it's not a big deal and wait till next year to get it done.

Is this normal? Should I wait till next year? Should I be flipping out?

I'd install, or have one installed. And then find a new service company.

 

[Plumbvoltage]

I would want a filter on it if it were mine.

 

[jimn]

Have a filter installed.as your tank gets older, it will become a bigger issue. The gunk that collects in the tank will start clogging. The little pump strainer in your burner and the nozzles. And get a new service company. I wouldn't freak out, but the money you spend installing the filter will save many expensive headaches down the road. Assuming there is a shut off valve on the tank this should be pretty inexpensive to install.

 

[roughneck]

Why not put one in right now? It's quite easy, only 2 joints and a quick prime of the oil line. Have you been getting charged for a filter? You defiantly want one in the system.

 

[Tom738]

Why not put one in right now? It's quite easy, only 2 joints and a quick prime of the oil line. Have you been getting charged for a filter? You defiantly want one in the system.

This is a good point--there's a perverse incentive here. A filter change is usually included in some of the service packages, whereas bigger work might not be. So a service company has an incentive to (1) not install a filter and thereby save the money on changing it out if you have a standard package, and (2) not install a filter and thereby charge you for the additional service work it creates.

Of course, they may also just be lazy.

 

[yuri]

Why do you think they even exist? Of course you need a filter same as a fuel filter for your car. What happens when they refill the tank while the burner is running? It disturbs the gunk at the bottom and can suck it in to the nozzle.

Probably they are lazy. Less hassle and don't have to clean up the floor or worry about oil spill smells plus carry dirty oil and used filters in their truck.