Oil boiler question

mel.b

I have just moved into the house i bought and it had an oil boiler (firebird heat pac 50-70). The previous owner showed it to me and he pressed a button the boiler to make it start. However i thought that was because it has been off over the summer. Last night i set it to come on with the timer and nothing happened until i pressed the button and again tonight it hadn't come on automatically despite it being on the timer.

Is there something wrong, or do i need to press this button everytime which seems pretty stupid. In my other house i had a gas boiler and it just came on automatically. The boiler in this house would be about 7yrs old. I'm not sure when it was serviced last....i must ask the previous owners.

Robbie.G

mel.b wrote: »

I have just moved into the house i bought and it had an oil boiler (firebird heat pac 50-70). The previous owner showed it to me and he pressed a button the boiler to make it start. However i thought that was because it has been off over the summer. Last night i set it to come on with the timer and nothing happened until i pressed the button and again tonight it hadn't come on automatically despite it being on the timer.

Is there something wrong, or do i need to press this button everytime which seems pretty stupid. In my other house i had a gas boiler and it just came on automatically. The boiler in this house would be about 7yrs old. I'm not sure when it was serviced last....i must ask the previous owners.

First things first is there any oil I know it can sound like a stupid question but you'd be surprised the amount that are just out of oil.
When you go and press the button is that button lit up red, does the boiler make any noise and try to start.
Answer those few things and then we'll see from there

jimf

not a stupid question at all Robbie had a call monday to service a boiler the usual run in first would not start as you suggested no oil so back again in morn as they have oil now luckily enough its only 10mins drive

TPM

mel.b wrote: »

I have just moved into the house i bought and it had an oil boiler (firebird heat pac 50-70). The previous owner showed it to me and he pressed a button the boiler to make it start. However i thought that was because it has been off over the summer. Last night i set it to come on with the timer and nothing happened until i pressed the button and again tonight it hadn't come on automatically despite it being on the timer.

Is there something wrong, or do i need to press this button everytime which seems pretty stupid. In my other house i had a gas boiler and it just came on automatically. The boiler in this house would be about 7yrs old. I'm not sure when it was serviced last....i must ask the previous owners.

Simple answer yes there is something wrong. The oil boiler should work as automatically as your previous gas boiler.

you need to get the boiler checked out and serviced. you can find an oftec registered technician here http://www.oftec.org/Consumers/FindTechnician

mel.b

Robbie.G wrote: »

First things first is there any oil I know it can sound like a stupid question but you'd be surprised the amount that are just out of oil.
When you go and press the button is that button lit up red, does the boiler make any noise and try to start.
Answer those few things and then we'll see from there

I was told there was oil in the tank but haven't checked yet and the people who moved out tookntheir thing (stick i think) that theynused to measure how much was in there.

Yes, when i press the button, it starts, i can see like a pilot light light up and the rads get warm. I've only had the timer set an hour so haven't checked if it is turning off quite quickly or if it is staying on.

I need to get someone out to switch the fire back from gas to being an open fire however was hoping to hold off on that until it got a bit colder. Looks like i might need to call him out sooner now.

hallo dare

The timer on the timeclock is more than likely at fault. If you press the button (which i assume is a 1hour boost button) and you say that the rads get warm, then it's the most logical answer.

Billy Bunting

mel.b wrote: »

I was told there was oil in the tank but haven't checked yet and the people who moved out tookntheir thing (stick i think) that theynused to measure how much was in there.

Yes, when i press the button, it starts, i can see like a pilot light light up and the rads get warm. I've only had the timer set an hour so haven't checked if it is turning off quite quickly or if it is staying on.

I need to get someone out to switch the fire back from gas to being an open fire however was hoping to hold off on that until it got a bit colder. Looks like i might need to call him out sooner now.

Your post is very vague, you were told you have oil, you push a button, can you be a little clearer and open the lid of the tank and look, use a broom handle! tell us what button your pushing, where ?? Pictures ?

mel.b

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Your post is very vague, you were told you have oil, you push a button, can you be a little clearer and open the lid of the tank and look, use a broom handle! tell us what button your pushing, where ?? Pictures ?

Considering it was after 10pm when i realised it wasn't working, photos taken at that hour wouldn't be much use as everything would be dark (boiler is outside). Same with oil tank obviously, i need to find the key and then have some daylight hours to check the level of oil. I'm at work currently so won't be able to do anything about that at the moment either. Plus i mentioned the make & model so anyone familiar should know button i am talking about. The other posters though seem to know which button i am talking about. I'm not familiar with boilers at all (from australia...we don't have them there) so i don't knowif it typical for them to have one button only like mine, or 10 buttons whichnis why the post is vauge. However i think the other posters have helped sort the problem with there probably being an issue with the timing mechanism.

sullzz

mel.b wrote: »

Considering it was after 10pm when i realised it wasn't working, photos taken at that hour wouldn't be much use as everything would be dark (boiler is outside). Same with oil tank obviously, i need to find the key and then have some daylight hours to check the level of oil. I'm at work currently so won't be able to do anything about that at the moment either. Plus i mentioned the make & model so anyone familiar should know button i am talking about. The other posters though seem to know which button i am talking about. I'm not familiar with boilers at all (from australia...we don't have them there) so i don't knowif it typical for them to have one button only like mine, or 10 buttons whichnis why the post is vauge. However i think the other posters have helped sort the problem with there probably being an issue with the timing mechanism.

That's a bit harsh , billy was only trying to help .
A faulty time clock wouldn't make a boiler go to lockout, the first thing I'd be checking is the oil filter

mel.b

Actually i thought billys post was a bit harsh and condesending - other posters had been able to help me despite my inital post being 'vauge' and lacking in pictures.

What do you mean by lockout and where is the oil filter located? Is that something i can check myself?

jimf

mel b

there are 3 buttons you could be pressing and each 1 would give a different idea of what your problem could be most of the questions
asked are for us to try and get an idea of whats going on

im afraid without questions you cant expect answers

Robbie.G

what everyone is trying to say is by the info thats provided it looks like its an oil problem been that no oil,problem with filter,firevalve.you need to take a pic of the boiler and the button that you had to press or theres going to be that much conflicting info.
Everyone is only trying to help there are a certain number of professionals here that do know what theyre talking about.

mel.b

I never said people weren't helping, much the opposite if you see above where i said that several posters had helped and provided possible answers to what might be wrong.

I've had a look online at the manual and it appears to be the lock out button i am pressing. I am not going to be home until tomorrow so i can't answer re: oil, other to say that i was told there was oil in the tank, or take any photos till then.

Thanks,
Mel.b

jimf

well if its the burner lockout button you are pressing this would indicate


a oil shortage

b possible dirt in filters

c possible fault with burner itself

maybe it might be a good idea to get someone competent to do a full service on your boiler at this stage once you are sure its not an oil shortage issue

TPM

mel.b wrote: »

I've had a look online at the manual and it appears to be the lock out button i am pressing.

Thanks,
Mel.b

The burner lockout will "trip" due to a fault/failure at the burner, this could be as simple as no oil. It could also be sue to al lot of other things (jimf has listed some of them) you could fill a thread with possible causes

You should never reset the burner lock out more than twice without getting the burner/boiler locked out as it could damage the burner and could actually be dangerous depending on the fault causing the burner to lockout.

I know getting the boiler and burner checked out seems to be an expense you could avoid but to be honest you really need to get it done at this stage even if the problem was caused by no oil.

jimf

good point from tpm excessive resets could possibly flood the combustion chamber if its an intermittent ignition problem

agusta

hallo dare wrote: »

The timer on the timeclock is more than likely at fault. If you press the button (which i assume is a 1hour boost button) and you say that the rads get warm, then it's the most logical answer.

Incorrect

TPM

jimf wrote: »

good point from tpm excessive resets could possibly flood the combustion chamber if its an intermittent ignition problem

which could lead to a bit of a "bang" situation

and two things on a less drastic side it could damage the pump if it is not getting oil or burn out the ignition coil

jimf

through force of habit now and a bit of good advice I got from an old oilie never press reset yourself until you have checked the combustion chamber for fuel build up after arriving on site

that reset twice sticker is there for a reason

scudo2

Transformer
Capacator
Photo cell
control boxy
Solonide coil
Solonide stem
Electrodes
Oil pump
Motor
Fire valve
Nozzle
Dirt
Oil

Or simply out of tune and needs a proper service.

Above is a simple list of what could be causing boiler to lock out with the red button on the burner. It might be better to get boiler serviced as then it'll be operating at its best efficency and could save you a fortune on oil consumption. Service Eng. will easly know is some part is weak or faulty.

Don't let anybody near it unless they know what their doing, are registered and use a "flue gas analizer" giving a printout of boiler emmisions and efficiency.
Without this equipment servicing is guess work and a waste of money.

Billy Bunting

mel.b wrote: »

Actually i thought billys post was a bit harsh and condesending - other posters had been able to help me despite my inital post being 'vauge' and lacking in pictures.

What do you mean by lockout and where is the oil filter located? Is that something i can check myself?

No one helped you at that point, members had differing presumptions of what button you where talking about and thus were starting to give conflicting advice , the button!!, while meaningless to you was the key to members helping you, someone at some time was going to have to clarify WHAT button, its unfortunate that you didn't like being asked, but your post was VAUGE.

Apology excepted, keep pushing the button. :rolleyes: