Comfort Line - Questions and Answers

This quarter our Questions and Answers segment discusses a new generation of oil heating equipment that will soon be available in the United States.

What is a blue flame burner?

Blue flame burners recirculate the combustion gases, changing the flame from bright yellow to blue.

Is blue flame technology new?

New heating technologies are often pioneered in Europe, where fuel costs are significantly higher and environmental regulations more stringent. Blue flame technology has been used successfully in Europe for many years and is just beginning to make its way to the United States. What are the advantages of blue flame oil heating equipment?

Boilers equipped with blue flame burners have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings above 89%. These are the highest AFUEs available with noncondensing oil or gas heating equipment and qualify to be Energy Star rated by the U.S. government.

Are blue flame burners good for the environment?

In addition to having higher AFUEs than traditional yellow flame equipment, blue flame burners dramatically reduce the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx), including both NO and NO2. Traditional yellow flame burners produce NOx emissions averaging 110 ppm. Blue flame burners reduce these emissions by 50% or more.

Are blue flame burners available in the United States?

Our German boiler line is currently available with blue flame technology.

Can a blue flame burner be retrofitted to my existing heating unit?

While we anticipate this will be possible in the future, at this time blue flame burners are only available in boilers that have been specifically designed for that technology. For more information, call us at 973-383-1421.