What is a common cause of delayed ignition in an oil burner?

Delayed ignition in an oil burner typically occurs when there isn't enough oil being delivered to create a proper combustion reaction. Insufficient oil delivery can often stem from clogging in the fuel filters or a blockage in the fuel line, which restricts the flow of oil to the burner. When the burner does not receive the right amount of oil, the mixture of oil and air in the combustion chamber can become imbalanced, leading to delayed ignition. When the burner finally ignites, it may do so with a bang or a puff because the accumulated oil ignites all at once, instead of burning steadily as intended. Proper maintenance of fuel delivery systems, including regularly checking and replacing fuel filters, is crucial to prevent this issue.

Other factors, such as overheating of the combustion chamber, excessive air, or improper nozzle size, may contribute to performance issues, but they are not the primary cause of the delayed ignition phenomenon as it relates to oil delivery.