Waste Oil Heating: Many Shop Owners Still Don't Get
It
Motor Service, Feb, 2001 by Jocelyn Park
It's been a blustery winter. If you don't believe me, ask
my car. Along with the many others out there hit by snowstorms,
I couldn't find my car for a couple days, and when I did,
well, let's just say I wasn't happy.
Or, you might also want to ask your technicians, who, no
doubt, like to keep just as warm as you, especially while
working. Waste oil heaters solve many problems: they heat
your work space, help the environment by recycling used
oil, and save money on heating costs.
"Bottom line, the product is designed to save money,"
says Bill Forbes, marketing manager for Lanair. He explains
that the savings aren't just on heating bills, but also
on disposal costs and other not-so-obvious places. "Not
only [are you getting] a return on investment from a tangible
standpoint, but also an intangible standpoint-employee productivity,"
he says.
Morris Mantey, director of marketing for Clean Burn, pointed
out by burning used oil on-site, you're also saving yourself
the many problems that come with using an outside source
for pick up. "No matter who picks the oil up, you as
the generator are responsible for it," he said. He
added that accidents after pick up or incompetent companies
can easily become your problem, even if the oil is out of
your hands.
From vaporization technology to today's more common atomizing
technology, waste oil heaters have seen dramatic improvements
since the mid-1980s. Still, Ron Watson, director of public
relations for the Used Oil Management Association (UOMA),
sees a need for more education and product-awareness. "We're
really amazed at the number of people who are unaware of
this technology," he says. Whether it's a complete
lack of knowledge on waste oil heater technology or a misconception
that the older, vaporization models are the only kinds available,
Watson said many are not taking advantage of current waste
oil technology. "The opportunity for free heat is probably
right in your backyard," he says, whether recycling
used oil generated on-site or collecting it from DIYers.
Watson adds, "It's a free source of fuel and a quick
payback." He said the newer models are especially efficient,
requiring less maintenance than their older counterparts
and that they pay for themselves within about two years.
Mantey finds little room for argument as far as waste
oil heaters being a good investment. He sees the reluctance
on the part of some shop owners to purchase and use waste
oil heaters stemming from an "if it ain't broke..."
attitude. But he said when considering waste oil heaters,
the rewards are simple. "I doubt seriously there is
any other piece of equipment in the shop today that would
have a quicker payback than our system," he said.
Though atomizer models require much less maintenance than the vaporization
types, Forbes of Lanair still cautioned against putting
the equipment up and forgetting about it. "They [shop
owners] have to be aware that because of burning dirty fuel,
it's not a maintenance-free product." He added that
the more knowledge users of waste oil heaters have about
the limits and details of the product, and the more they
exercise some kind of fuel-management, the more longevity
and productivity they'll get out of the product.
As for the future of waste oil heaters, Watson said the
key is getting the word out. "We're really still finding
many small businesses that are unaware that this technology
exists," he tells MS. He adds that some larger companies
such as mining and fleet outfits have waste oil heaters,
but only a small percentage. Not only does the association
want to see new customers, it wants to see current customers
buying more units. "The market is wide open to us,"
he says. Forbes agreed, saying, "There's a definite
continuing need for newer customers and newer industries."
Mantey added that the growing cost of energy, coupled with
continuing advances in waste oil technology-particularly
ease-of-use in operating and maintaining the system-should
help the industry's future continue to flourish.
Watson says the idea of waste oil recycling needs to be
as common as the idea of recycling newspaper and aluminum
cans. This, he believes, is the future of waste oil heating.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Adams Business Media
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group
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