Omni Waste Oil Heaters

[mopardixon44]

I'm looking for feedback on these heaters, anyone that has used one at work or in their personal shops. How long you have had it, pros and cons, would you buy again? Also what other heaters people have used for burning used motor oil and possible used WVO (waste vegetable oil).

thanks
Brandon

 

[mopardixon44]

anyone????

 

[Charles (in GA)]

There are LOTS of USED OIL heater manufacturers. Waste Oil is a ugly term as it implies hazardous waste. Even the Used oil heater companies use it, because that is what everyone calls it, but they prefer USED OIL.

Anyhow, I do not have one, yet. I have been looking for a couple of years now, just cannot get off the dollars for one.

Omni, I suspect, makes a good product, its just tough to get past the sales hype and the BS artist sales people they have (if you talk to them on the phone)

A couple of major things sets the various brands apart. All require compressed air, some have their own onboard compressors, while others depend on shop air (regulated down to about 20 psi) instead of providing a onboard compressor. I am not willing to leave the shop air system (when it is fully installed) turned on just to run the heater when I'm not in the shop. The other item, which may or may not be a factor, is that some of the heaters are designed to be connected to a duct system, or left un-ducted, While others have louvers and cannot and are not rated to be ducted.

In looking at heaters I found the following manufacturers.

Reznor, which is an old manufacturer of heaters, now owned by Thomas & Betts and who decline to post the location of their headquarters or manufacturing facilities.
http://www.reznorheaters.com/

Firelake, Mt. Crawford, VA
http://www.usedoilheaters.com/index.html

EnergyLogic, Nashville, TN
http://www.energylogic.com/heaters.html

Heatwave which is also found under the name Siebring Manufacturing, George, IA
http://www.heatwave-waste-oil-heaters.com

Clean Burn, Leola, PA
http://www.cleanburn.com/

Lanair, Janesville, WI
http://www.lanair.com/Lanair2.0/

Omni by Econo Heat, Spokane, WA
http://www.econoheat.com/

Norki Energy Systems, Poughkeepsie, NY
http://www.norki.com

Units without onboard air compressors are Clean Burn, Firelake, Lanair, and Heatwave/Seibring units.

Norki, Omni, EnergyLogic and Reznor all use built in air compressors.

Some of these brands share burner systems manufactured by a third party, Siebring I think, others use their own design burner systems.

Reznor seems to be the only company that manufactures a full line of heaters, used oil, fuel oil, propane and natural gas.

Charles

 

[JOHNMAN]

Mine is a Lanair unit. It was in my shop when I bought the house.

I collect motor oil from folks at work during the non-heating season. It is better than having to dispose of it in another way.

a couple of things:

1. These units require some maintenance each heating season
2. They can be a bit finicky to keep lit if the oil in the storage tank gets too cold.
3. The chimney pipes will require replacement from time to time.

I like the cheap heat and it does provide enough heat.

 

[krooser]

If you buy one don't let the maintenance go... here's the result of one furnace that wasn't serviced when it needed it...

 

[mopardixon44]

JOHNMAN,
what size is your garage?
insulated? how much ?
what size heater?
How much oil do you use?
WHat temp do you keep your garage?

 

[JOHNMAN]

I have a 40x64 pole barn divided into a 40x24 (electric base board heated) and a 40x40 shop area heated with the waste oil heater.

The shop has it's walls and roof insulated with the wrap that they use on pole barns. The walls are now insulated 10' up (since I studded them out, insulated them and dry walled them).

I have not quite had it a year but I only heated it when I went out there to work. It doesn't seem to get too cold around southern Indiana, but when it does, the heater works out just fine. I am used to ventless gas fired radiant heaters and while they are quieter than the oil burner, the natural gas did cost money.

My heater burner is a 150,000 BTU unit. I think it probably consumes about a gallon an hour when the heater is lit. Once the area gets up to temperature, it cycles on and off. It really doesn't run that much as it does a good job of heating the air. The blower is slightly loud and does take some getting used to (because I was used to silent heat), but it isn't that bad. A radio or TV can easily be heard.

This winter, I should be able to get a better feel for how much oil is consumed. I do need to look into collecting up some more oil......... It does have a 400+ gallon reservoir.

 

[RibTickler]

I have a very large Reznor that heats a heavy equipment shop at work. Heats very well, but it does require some maintenance. We are in the process of changing shops and moving the heater and having it rebuilt after it is reinstalled. The heater technician recommended completely installing it and rebuilding in place.

 

[mopardixon44]

JOHNMAN,

Your post have been helpful!
Where in southern Indiana do you live? I live in Mt.Vernon, just west of Evansville.

 

[JOHNMAN]

I'm just outside of Chandler (just East of Evansville).