How to Get Your Shop Ready for a Waste Oil Heater

A waste oil heater is a game-changer for any auto shop, giving you free heat while getting rid of used oil. But before you fire it up, you need to make sure your shop is set up right. A little prep work now saves you a ton of headaches later—keeping your heater running smoothly, safely, and efficiently all winter. Let’s walk through everything you need to do before installation.

Pick the Right Spot

Where you install your heater makes a huge difference in how well it works. First off, you need to keep it away from anything that could catch fire. The rule of thumb is at least 36 inches of clearance around the unit and 18 inches of space between the exhaust pipe and anything flammable.

You also want good airflow. A waste oil heater needs fresh air to burn clean, so don’t stick it in a cramped corner or block it with equipment. Put it somewhere central in your shop so the heat can spread evenly and it’s easy to access for maintenance and refueling.

Last thing—make sure the heater sits on a solid, level surface. Concrete is ideal. You don’t want
it wobbling or sitting on something that could burn.

Set Up the Venting Right

Your heater burns used oil, which means it kicks out exhaust that needs to vent safely outside.
Mess this up, and you’ll end up with smoke in your shop or a heater that won’t stay lit.

You’ll need Class A insulated pipe at the penetration of your building, and anywhere outside (whether it be the roof or wall) to handle the heat. The exhaust pipe has two specific requirements that MUST be met. The vertical section needs to be a minimum of 10’ and the barometric damper needs to be installed a minimum of 2-3 feet from the closest edge of the heater to keep the draft strong. If your venting isn’t high enough, wind and backpressure can cause the heater to burn inefficiently or even shut off.

Avoid sharp turns in the vent pipe—90-degree bends slow airflow and cause problems. If you need to change direction, use two 45-degree elbows instead. And if your pipe goes through a wall or ceiling, use the proper thimbles to prevent fire hazards.

After installation, check the draft. You’re aiming for 0.01-0.02 inches of water column (W.C.) if the chimney is cold and 0.05-0.06 after the chimney has heated sufficiently. Too little draft and the burner won’t work right, too much and you’re wasting heat.

Get Your Oil Storage Set Up

Your heater runs on waste oil, but it won’t run well if that oil is full of water, antifreeze, or gunk. A dirty fuel supply leads to clogged filters, burner issues, and downtime. To avoid this, store your oil in a sealed tank that keeps out moisture and debris.

If you’re using a pumped system, install a good inline filter to keep contaminants from reaching the burner.

Water in your oil is the #1 enemy of a waste oil heater. Even small amounts can mess up combustion, causing the burner to sputter or shut down. Make it a habit to check for water in your tank and drain any that collects at the bottom.

Get the Power and Fuel Lines Ready

Your heater needs the right electrical setup to run smoothly. It should be hard-wired into a 115V, 20-amp circuit (two separate 20-amp circuits with ductable options) and it’s best if nothing else is pulling power from the same breaker/s. Overloading the circuit can lead to performance issues or even damage the unit. Units of different sizes will require different power supplies.

Specific Lanair waste oil heater power supply is detailed in the installation guide and on the product page.

Fuel lines should be made of approved copper or steel—no rubber or plastic tubing that can degrade over time. Make sure all fittings are tight to prevent leaks, and if your heater uses a pump system, check the inline filter regularly to prevent clogs.

Before turning the heater on, inspect all the fuel lines and connections for leaks. A small leak not only wastes fuel but also creates a serious fire hazard. Fix any issues before starting up the heater.

Double-Check Safety Before Firing It Up

Before you flip the switch, run through a final checklist to make sure everything is good to go.

Clearance Check – Make sure nothing is too close to the heater or exhaust pipe.
Venting Check – Make sure the flue pipe is installed properly, has the right draft, and isn’t blocked.
Fuel Check – Look for any leaks and confirm that clean oil is feeding into the heater.
Fire Safety – Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, just in case.

Once everything looks solid, fire up the heater and let it run for a while. Keep an eye on the flame—it should be steady and bright. If it’s flickering, smoking, or struggling to stay lit, check the draft, oil supply, or air intake for issues.

Keep Your Heater Running Smoothly

A waste oil heater is low maintenance, but it’s not zero maintenance. To keep it running efficiently, clean the chimney cleanout regularly and check for carbon buildup in the combustion chamber. A dirty heater burns less efficiently and can start having problems lighting.

Oil quality matters, too. If your heater starts acting up, check for water or sludge in the tank before assuming something is wrong with the unit.

If you ever run into trouble, a lot of common issues—low flame, poor draft, clogged filters—can be fixed with quick adjustments. If you’re unsure how to troubleshoot, Lanair has step-by-step installation and maintenance videos that walk you through everything. You can check them out here: Lanair Video Library.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to prep your shop before installing your waste oil heater makes a huge difference in how well it runs. With the right setup, you’ll get reliable, efficient heat all season without the hassle of constant repairs.

Once you’ve got everything in place, fire it up and enjoy the free heat. And if you need more details, you can always check out the full Lanair XT Series Installation Manual to make sure you’re following every step correctly.