Oil boiler broken down. Just won’t start when needed. Any DIY ideas?
My oil boiler has decided not to work in the middle of this cold weather. It was last serviced about 3 months ago.
The pump and everything runs as normal, just it pumps around cold water. The boiler doesn’t even make an attempt to work and just seems as if it’s turned off when starting from cold. It’s getting power, unless it has it’s own internal fuse, because the pump and hot water/heating water switch is working correctly.
Does anybody, preferably a plumber/heating engineer have any ways I could try and fis it myself before having to call someone in? I’m freezing here.
Thanks
Jack
Yes I am in the UK. And I have half a tank of kerosene, oil fuel.
There is a cut-off switch inside the house (its an outside boiler) that lights up when hot water is needed, that lights up indicating it’s getting power.
Brian D:
Fuel, yes
what lock out?
pump works fine, it pumps around cold water
It’s an auto-lighting boiler, it’s not a gas boiler
water pressure = unknown but would that stop it from lighing?
how would bleeding the radiators help?
car dude:
The whole system was only put in about 10-12 months ago. I’ll try the reset button, I have seen it but it sais ‘Reset twice only’. What does that mean?
Tagged with: Auto Lighting • Kerosene Oil • Pumps
Filed under: DIY Plumbing
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Come on — tell us what country you’re in. Your teminolgy and the type of system suggests you’re in the UK.
You need to establish that it’s actually getting power — it may be getting nothing from the time-switch, because the pump is on a separate feed from a separate circuit in the time-switch. Is there not an inidcator light of some sort inside the boiler casing to show that there’s a live power supply?
Have you (assuming you’re in the UK) a multimeter ( or if you’re in the US a VOM?)
Do you have fuel? Did it lock out? Has the pump been primed? Are you getting a spark when you try to light it? What is the water pressure in the boiler? Have you bled the rariators? If you can’t answer ALL of these questions ,you need to call a pro so you don’t blow yourself up. It could be several other things that I won’t go into because of the safety issues. Call the Pro
the control for the burner usually has a red reset button on it, did you push or slide it to fire the burner? it has happened to me on more than one occasion. and you have checked to be sure that you have oil? and i have also had to have the service tech back even thought he was out that year because of a defective part. so don’t rule out part faiure, after all it is an old boiler. the fact that the circulating pump is running would have me believe that the thermostat isn’t the trouble as it is calling for heat, and the pump is good, too. so check the fuel and try the reset, and then call the service tech. good luck and i don’t care where you live, just glad to try and help!