finfly1

Even before the cost of home heating oil quintupled, (sadly not that long ago) one, being cheap by birth and by termperment) was in the habit of siwtching off my oil burner during the summer for long periods of time. It was usually 23 hours at a time in warmer months, turning it on to wash self, clothes, and dishes and then turning it off again, as the sound of it running in the midst of eighty five degree temperatures was somehow jarring. One also routinely turned it off for a week or more at a time when travelling.


A visiting oil burner repairman told me recently that this was not a good practice and gave me some techical, logical sounding reason why this was so. I don't remember what he said, although he seemed convincing enough that I curtailed the practice for awhile more.


HOWEVER, he makes his living working for a company which SELLS the stuff, and so my saving on it is not necessarily in his best economic interest, and therefore I have to wonder whether his judgement on the subject might be tainted. If anyone KNOWS or has strong opinions on the possible damage to an oil fired oil burner which could be caused by turning it off periodically, I would be MOST interested and appreciative of any advice.
El Cheapo