"Jim" wrote in message

Do oil furnaces burn any cleaner than they use to? The last time I
lived in a house with oil heat was about 10 years ago and the furnace
was relatively new ( 5 yrs old). Every year or two when my wife did
her spring cleaning, she would wash the drapes and curtains. The water
from the washing machine would almost be black. Whenever I did
painting in the house, I would wash down the walls and have to emply
the bucket 5 or 6 times due to the grime from the oil heat. Is this
still typical for many people with a modern oil buring furnace?

I have hot water heat. An oil furnace (versus the boiler) may be a whole
different story though. My house has the original heater from 1987 when the
house was built. I've never experienced the problems you had and my house
exterior is white. Hot air heat from any fuel source is more likely to
spread contaminates in the air.