There are two types of oil burners. One type is called a gun type burner and the other is called a vaporizing burner. In a high pressure oil burner a fine spray of oil is pumped under high pressure through a small nozzle. The oil vapor combines with air and is ignited by a high voltage spark generated by a transformer in the unit.
Vaporizing burners do not operate under pressure. The combustion area consists of an enclosed shallow pan into which oil is entered manually by turning a valve. The oil in the pan is ignited by an electric igniter. The heat from the burning oil causes more oil to vaporize and combine with air in the combustion chamber. The vaporizing oil burner is not widely found in this part of the county. The gun type burner can be found almost in every oil fired heat application in New Jersey.