How long is a furnace allowed to run without ignition?

In the context of furnace operation, the duration that a burner is permitted to run without achieving ignition is critical for safety and efficiency. The regulation allowing a furnace to run for a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 90 seconds without ignition is established to prevent excessive fuel consumption and potential hazards associated with unignited oil, such as puffbacks or increased emissions.

If the burner operates beyond this specified range, it may indicate issues such as a malfunctioning ignition system, fuel delivery problems, or other related failures. The minimum time allows the burner some leeway to establish a flame under normal conditions, while the maximum time is a safeguard to ensure that the system does not continue to run inefficiently and potentially create a hazardous situation.

Understanding this time frame is essential for anyone working with oil burners, as adherence to the specified parameters ensures safe and effective operation.