Download Massachusetts Oil Burner License Exam Prep: 2025/2026 Practice Questions and more Exams Oil Engineering in PDF only on Docsity!
MASSACHUSETTS OIL BURNER LICENSE EXAM 2025/
UPDATE/PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS (complete solutions) /GRADED A+!!!
What is the minimum stack temperature which will allow a stack switch to work? -
CORRECT ANSWER- 400 degrees F
When do you apply a permit to store oil? - CORRECT ANSWER- 10 gallons.
What is the "Main" function of an oil burner Primary Control? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Prove Flame.
Stack Relay must be reset after lockout? True? or False? - CORRECT ANSWER-
True.
What is the Required minimum height required for fill and vent pipes? -
CORRECT ANSWER- 3 Feet.
What are the 3 funtions of an Oil Burner nozzle? - CORRECT ANSWER- Atomize,
Meter, Patter.
What are the 2 voltage circuits of a primary control? - CORRECT ANSWER- Line &
Low.
What is the function of a fuse? - CORRECT ANSWER- Protect circuit.
What is the High Limit cut out? - CORRECT ANSWER- Max safe Temp or Pressure
setting.
What is the High Limit cut in? - CORRECT ANSWER- Cut out minus Differential.
What is the "Max" Lockout time for a burner with a 3 GPH Flow Rate? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 45 Seconds.
What is the smallest vent pipe used for residential. - CORRECT ANSWER- 1 inch
What size is the oil line for a residential burner? - CORRECT ANSWER- 3/
Largest oil capacity for residential without a license? - CORRECT ANSWER-
10,000 Gallons
At what height ceiling would a second thermal switch be required? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 12'
How many cubic feet of Air is required for a 1 gallon nozzle? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 1,
If a power vent fails to start or shuts down during operation, will this affect the
burner? Yes? Or No? - CORRECT ANSWER- Yes
A Hot Water Boiler needs a low water cut off if over 300,000 B.T.U's? - CORRECT
ANSWER- False
What is the proper draft setting for an oil burner? - CORRECT ANSWER-.
Inches WC
Taco Zones Valves draw .9 Amps? True? Or False? - CORRECT ANSWER- True
What device sees flame failure and causes it to lockout? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Cad Cell A boiler has been flooded by recent rain. What would be the most common
problem for a burner as a result - CORRECT ANSWER- Electrical damage
What is the minimum size of pipping for copper and black pipe in a residential
installation? - CORRECT ANSWER- 3/8 unless over 100 ft
If you increased the air on a burner what would happen to the Co2 Reading? -
CORRECT ANSWER- It would go down
If you increased the air on a burner what would happen to stack temperature? -
CORRECT ANSWER- It would go up
Give 2 reasons why draft is necessary? - CORRECT ANSWER- Remove flu gasses
& efficiency.
Would an increase in excess air raise or lower the stack temp? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Raise
Where should a hot water temp operating control not be located? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Away from the tankless coil
What are the requirements for pressure controls for boilers? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Line Voltage, ( Max 15 psi ) , Mounted on pigtail, and above water line.
What info on an oil burner certifies it has been approved by the Marshall? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Mass Approval
What is a scavenger period? - CORRECT ANSWER- Pre + Post Purge
What are two methods used by domestic oil burners to prepare oil for
combustion. - CORRECT ANSWER- Atomize & Vaporize
What info must be given when buying a new pump? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Rpm's, rotation, inlet port, outlet port, and stage of pump?
Name 3 causes of delayed ignition? - CORRECT ANSWER- Weak Transformer,
Bad Electrodes, and bad spray pattern/clogged nozzle
What is the voltage output of an ignition transformer? - CORRECT ANSWER-
10,000 Standard & 14,000 Rotary
What determines the GPH of a nozzle? - CORRECT ANSWER- The Orriface
Inner parts of a nozzle can be changed? True? Or False? - CORRECT ANSWER-
False. You never change the inner parts of a nozzle
What do we mean by differential with regards to a pressure trol? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Cut out & Cut in
How many BTU's in a Gallon of #2 fuel oil? - CORRECT ANSWER- 140,000 Btu's
How is an electrical solenoid valve wired and where is it installed? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Wired in parallel & installed to the motor
What is a series circuit? - CORRECT ANSWER- One path for electrons to flow
What is a camium sulfide cell? - CORRECT ANSWER- A visual Flame detector
How would you test the safety timing on a stack switch? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Disconnect T 3
Can material other then steel be used for construction of a light fuel oil tank? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Yes if Approved
What are the requirements when installing two tanks together to a common
supply line? - CORRECT ANSWER- Tanks must be level
What is the voltage found on the TT Terminals? - CORRECT ANSWER- 24v
What gauge wire is used for a T Stat? - CORRECT ANSWER- 18 Guage
Is Carbon Monoxide a desirable flue gas? - CORRECT ANSWER- Hell no!
What is the purpose of a low limit control on a steam or hot water boiler? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Maintain boiler temperature for domestic
What is electrical continuity? - CORRECT ANSWER- Complete path
What is a parallel circuit? - CORRECT ANSWER- More then one path for
electrons to flow
What is the function of a draft regulator? - CORRECT ANSWER- To maintain a
steady draft
What are the five parts of a Backarach smoke test kit? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Draft Gauge, Smoke pump, Co2 analizer, thermometer, & effiency chart. What are two reasons for a lockout on a stack switch with combustion established
? - CORRECT ANSWER- Dirty Helix or low stack temperature
What is the function of the hot contacts on a stack primary? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Power the motor
What do six terminals on a stack switch go to? - CORRECT ANSWER- 1) Hot 2)
Neutral 3) Motor 4) Transformer, TT to Thermostat
When is an oil gauge required? - CORRECT ANSWER- Any tank with a fill and
vent pipe
When are swing joints required? - CORRECT ANSWER- When ever you need
pitch
What is a power burner? - CORRECT ANSWER- Any burner other than a gravity
feed or a pressure feed
Why are low voltage t stats used more then line voltage - CORRECT ANSWER-
Main reason because low voltage ones are much safer. Also low voltage t stats are more accurate and less expensive
Is it permissible to use manually operated smoke pipe dampers - CORRECT
ANSWER- Yes, on sleeve burners only.
How is a stack switch put "in step"? - CORRECT ANSWER- Pull out clutch arm a
half inch or so and release slowly. This aligns operating contacts. Cold contacts will close and hot contacts will open.
A hot water boiler is showing 12 psi, How far will it raise the water? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 28ft
On a forced warm air system the burner and blower come on at the same time?
True? Or False? - CORRECT ANSWER- False
A storage tank more then capacity, other then an outside above ground
tank! shall be filled only through a pipe which terminates outside the building -
CORRECT ANSWER- 60 Gallons
When replacing a nozzle to get the right angle & spray pattern you should? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Replace it with manufacture specs
All hot water boilers must use what to control expansion. - CORRECT ANSWER-
Expansion tank
Before installing a new nozzle you should what? - CORRECT ANSWER- Flush out
connector line.
When hydrogen burns it creates what? - CORRECT ANSWER- Water Vapor
When using a draft gauge you must what? - CORRECT ANSWER- Zero it
After installing a new steam boiler there is oil mixed with water what do you do? -
CORRECT ANSWER- You skim the water in the boiler
Electrical energy is supplied to this device so it perform curtain functions -
CORRECT ANSWER- Load
What is the temperature ration on a thermal safety switch on an oil burner circuit
- CORRECT ANSWER- 165 degrees F
What is the first thing a tech should do when arriving at a no combustion call? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Ask how many times the customer reset the unit.
What is the best long term solution for preventing a clogged nozzle? - CORRECT
ANSWER- - Remove any underground storage tanks.
- Install a quality oil filter.
- Cut the suction line 10" above the tank outlet to prevent sludge.
Hot water and steam valves are interchangeable. - CORRECT ANSWER- False
When in the presence of a flame, a cad cell normally reads.. - CORRECT
ANSWER- 300 - 1000 ohms
If a pump is used to bring oil to a level higher than the tank, an oil safety valve is
required. - CORRECT ANSWER- True
On a call where a hydronic heat system is putting out too much heat on the stack,
the issue may be.. - CORRECT ANSWER- - Too much draft.
- Not enough combustion air in the equipment room.
- Air leakage into chamber.
A high CO2 reading is caused by.. - CORRECT ANSWER- Incomplete combustion
An often overlooked cause of a high CO2 reading is.. - CORRECT ANSWER- Not
enough combustion air in the equipment room.
The difference between an adjustable flame retention burner and a fixed flame
retention burner is? - CORRECT ANSWER- Air inlets can be adjusted
Ignitor position can be adjusted Fuel can be adjusted Oil tank design, construction, installation and testing shall be in accordance with..
- CORRECT ANSWER- 527 CMR 9.
Heat is a form of.. - CORRECT ANSWER- Energy
If a burner is operational but the circulator pump isn't running.. - CORRECT
ANSWER- The pump relay is not working correctly
A method of dealing with low viscosity/cold temps with #2 oil? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Increase pump pressure/ decrease nozzle size
What is needed at the outlet of an oil tank? - CORRECT ANSWER- Thermal safety
valve
Where do you obtain an installation permit for oil burners? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Fire Dept
How many Btu's approximately in 1 gal of #2 fuel oil? - CORRECT ANSWER-
140,000 btu's
Solid state ignition is superior to spark because - CORRECT ANSWER- It is not
affected by reduced voltage
What is an installation? - CORRECT ANSWER- The complete setting in place,
ready for operation, of an oil burner appliance together with its accessories and equipment.
How far must a power vent terminate from an opening or window? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 4'
A pump in a one pipe system that is full of air can be self purged. - CORRECT
ANSWER- False
List the minimum size of an oil supply line. - CORRECT ANSWER- 3/8"
A material with electrons so loose it allows voltage to pass with little or no
resistance.. - CORRECT ANSWER- Is a conductor
If a high limit goes off, what does a low water switch do? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Maintains water temperature
What is the maximum tank size allowed inside unenclosed? - CORRECT
ANSWER- 660 gal
What is the purpose of a delayed oil valve? - CORRECT ANSWER- Allows time for
the oil pump to get up to speed. Delays oil flow to the nozzle. On a call where a hydronic heat system is putting out too much heat, the issue
could be? - CORRECT ANSWER- A shorted out thermostat.
When measuring a cad cell with the burner running and the ff terminals jumped
out, what should the cad cell reading be? - CORRECT ANSWER- 1600 ohms
What are the possible causes of soot at or near the power venter? - CORRECT
ANSWER- Incomplete combustion
What is a possible side effect of air in a nozzle line? - CORRECT ANSWER- Soot
What is the cause if the cad cell is tripped on safety? - CORRECT ANSWER- Dirty
cad cell Faulty cad cell
No flame present
If a boiler is running but the water temperature is low? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Undersized nozzle
If a boiler is at 30 psi and the relief valve opens? - CORRECT ANSWER- Expansion
tank is undersized Tank bladder is perforated Tankless coil is leaking
Atomizing type burners were designed to burn which type of fuel? - CORRECT
ANSWER- #2 oil
One gallon of #2 fuel oil contains approximately: - CORRECT ANSWER- 140,
BTU's Pour point problems with outside above ground fuel tanks can be partially relived
by: - CORRECT ANSWER- - Relocating the outside fuel filters and strainers to the
inside
