Boiler/Burner problem

Sofiztikated

How do all. Not sure if this is the right place, mods feel free to bump it to a more suitable area.

We moved into a new house, back in the summer.

Was away for a week, and came home and went to put the heating on. There was oil (admittedly not a lot, didn't want to leave it in the tank while we were away) but a good 150 litres or so.

Burner wouldn't go on. Checked the high heater switch, it had tripped. Reset it, and boiler went on. Noticed a leak of what looked like fuel, so knocked off the boiler immediately. It was coming from what like like a pipe, with a hex head screw in it, so I tightened it. Tried it again. Fired away for less than 5 minutes, then went off. At the back, there was a vertical pipe, with a red cap at the top, this started venting.

After this, it wouldn't go on at all.

Got a tech in to look at it, he checked all the pipes, said that there looked like there was too much pressure in the system, loosened a valve on what looked like a pump, was (and air I think) pissed out of this, and the system went on.

Was fine for that evening. Not a huge amount of heat in the rads, but I didn't have a key to bleed them.

The next day, it wouldn't go on. Same thing, burner fires, valve hisses, stop. I can't get the valve he turned to open at all. I also bled the radiators, the last on the loop, in the bathroom (I think it is, would make sense to be) was full of air.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Burner is a Riello RDB, boiler is Warmflow 90.

aujopimur

Your high limit stat and the safety did what they were intended for, if what the tech says is his diagnosis I would suggest you get a second opinion.
It sounds to me that you have either lack of water (possibly a leak)or no circulation (faulty pump).

DoneDL

Sofiztikated wrote: »

How do all. Not sure if this is the right place, mods feel free to bump it to a more suitable area.

We moved into a new house, back in the summer.

Was away for a week, and came home and went to put the heating on. There was oil (admittedly not a lot, didn't want to leave it in the tank while we were away) but a good 150 litres or so.

Burner wouldn't go on. Checked the high heater switch, it had tripped. Reset it, and boiler went on. Noticed a leak of what looked like fuel, so knocked off the boiler immediately. It was coming from what like like a pipe, with a hex head screw in it, so I tightened it. Tried it again. Fired away for less than 5 minutes, then went off. At the back, there was a vertical pipe, with a red cap at the top, this started venting.

After this, it wouldn't go on at all.

Got a tech in to look at it, he checked all the pipes, said that there looked like there was too much pressure in the system, loosened a valve on what looked like a pump, was (and air I think) pissed out of this, and the system went on.

Was fine for that evening. Not a huge amount of heat in the rads, but I didn't have a key to bleed them.

The next day, it wouldn't go on. Same thing, burner fires, valve hisses, stop. I can't get the valve he turned to open at all. I also bled the radiators, the last on the loop, in the bathroom (I think it is, would make sense to be) was full of air.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Burner is a Riello RDB, boiler is Warmflow 90.

RDB is a pretty reliable burner are are most Riello burners, I think that air in the system is most probaby the problem as aujopimur suggested. you posted "there was a vertical pipe, with a red cap at the top" does it look
like this

Sofiztikated

DoneDL wrote: »

RDB is a pretty reliable burner are are most Riello burners, I think that air in the system is most probaby the problem as aujopimur suggested. you posted "there was a vertical pipe, with a red cap at the top" does it look
like this

That's the job. Says 3 bar on the top, with a directional arrow.

DoneDL

Sofiztikated, this is a pressure relief valve, if your system has a gauge on it then you will be able to tell if the system is over pressure but as the Tech didn`t mention it I would assume your system is tank fed. If it was just the valve letting by without any other problems then I would say just change it. But I think aujopimur is spot on when he said get a second opinion.

Sofiztikated

Thanks guys.

I was hoping it would be an easy fix, that I could do myself, but I guess I'll have to find a different tech to look at it.

Yay, more money.

DoneDL

Sofiztikated, why don`t you post your area and ask for recommendations from other users.

aujopimur

Check to see if your circulating pump is running.

Sofiztikated

aujopimur wrote: »

Check to see if your circulating pump is running.

How do I check this?

aujopimur

You should be able to feel it by puttihg your hand on it, or undo the large screw in the certre of the pump and stick a screwdiiver in the hole, if it's running you will feel that it's running, if not switch off and locate the slot on the spindle in the hole in the pump with the screwdriver and rotate back and forth this should free it out if it's stuck, switch on again and see if it runs.

Sofiztikated

aujopimur wrote: »

You should be able to feel it by puttihg your hand on it, or undo the large screw in the certre of the pump and stick a screwdiiver in the hole, if it's running you will feel that it's running, if not switch off and locate the slot on the spindle in the hole in the pump with the screwdriver and rotate back and forth this should free it out if it's stuck, switch on again and see if it runs.

This is the one I can't get open. I'll give it another shot when I get home.