Oil Burner Mechanic

NOC (National Occupational Classification)

  • NOC 7331 Oil and Solid Fuel Heating Mechanics

Who am I?

Oil Burner Mechanics install and maintain oil, coal and wood heating systems in residential and commercial buildings.  They are employed by heating systems installation and service companies.

Other Titles:

Oil and/or Wood Burner Mechanic
Oil Burner Technician or Apprentice
Oil and Solid Fuel Heating Mechanic
Heating Systems Technician, Apprentice or Mechanic
Oil/coal or Wood Heating Installer and Repairer
Heating Systems Installer

Essential Skills

Essential Skills are not the technical skills required by particular occupations but rather the skills applied in all occupations. These skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and apply to careers in HVACR. See Employment and Social Development Canada for more details.

The most important Essential Skills for Oil Burner Mechanics are:

  • Reading Text – Ability to understand requirements for installing and maintaining equipment through manufacturers instruction manuals, nozzle pressure charts, code book clauses
  • Document Use – Refers to and understands diagrams and blueprints outlining system components, boiler piping instructions, electrical wiring diagrams, oil burner technical manual
  • Oral Communications – Must be able to communicate with colleagues, customers, manufacturer reps and others.

Interested in seeing how Essential Skills are applied in this career? Download Essential Skills Application: Oil Burner Mechanic

What do I do?

As an Oil Burner Mechanic you may do some of the following:

  • Laying out and assembling heating and domestic hot water system components and appliances
  • Repair oil-fired heating systems, components, fuel oil storage systems  and related equipment
  • Remove oil fired appliances, components, fuel oil storage systems and related equipment
  • Install venting systems, fuel oil storage tanks, electrical and electronic systems.
  • Install oil fired forced air heating systems and hot water hydronic heating systems
  • Install fuel supply system.
  • Organize work and performs scheduled maintenance, troubleshooting and repairing oil-fired heating systems and components.
  • Inspect oil fired appliances and fuel oil storage systems 
  • Complete work orders and inspection documents
  • Interact with customers, regulatory inspectors and co workers.

Training/Education

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program
    or
  • A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in heating systems installation and repair is usually required for trade certification.
  • Trade certification is compulsory in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec and is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.