Red Seal Oil Heat System Technician Practice Exam

What does a low combustion efficiency indicate?

1. More heat is wasted than produced

2. The burner is operating at optimal capacity

3. Fuel is completely burned with no waste

4. Air-to-fuel ratio is perfectly balanced

The correct answer is: More heat is wasted than produced

A low combustion efficiency indicates that more heat is wasted than produced. This means that the fuel being used is not being fully converted into useful energy for heating purposes. Instead, a significant portion of the energy contained in the fuel is lost to the exhaust gases, often as unburned fuel, or through other inefficiencies in the combustion process. When combustion efficiency is low, it suggests that there are issues such as improper air-to-fuel mixtures, accumulation of soot, or other problems affecting the burner's performance. This inefficiency can lead to higher fuel consumption and increased operational costs, as more fuel must be burned to achieve the desired level of heating. An efficient burner should maximize the energy extracted from the fuel while minimizing waste, which contrasts with the scenario described by low combustion efficiency.