Time to replace the firebird 90 S?

Igotadose

Hello all. Moved to a house in Dingle in August and have had problems with the boiler pretty much since day 1. It stank of unburnt kerosene fuel when it was run; had it serviced and the serviceman removed just years worth of accumulated crap, he also found the plates were installed backwards, replaced 1 of the jets and so on. This improved things a lot, but still some smell. We then were away for a couple months, came back, cranked it up last week, and the smell is still there. Had him out again, he did a bit more cleaning and sealed the unit with a bead of silicone.

Smell is still there. As far as we know, the previous owner didn't use it or rarely used it. I say this because we found the fuel tank off its support legs, missing one of the caps and once emptied we found about 50% water/50% fuel. The fireplace had been used (it, too, needed work but that's a different thread.) We think the owner used the fireplace and heated water for washing using the electric heater built into the hot water tank that's run via a (broken) immermat timer.

The Firebird's maybe 10 years old. Have had experience in the US with oil burners, I am wondering, if this unit is 10 years old and not well maintained (the serviceman thought by the looks of things it had been several years since service was last done on it), should we simply replace it? And, is there a better unit we should look into? What about gas (propane? Butane?) vs. Kerosene? Natural gas isn't available, but some of the neighbors have propane. Another expensive possibility is electric heat, is that a crazy thing to consider?

Thanks,

Igotadose

Wearb

Igotadose wrote: »

Hello all. Moved to a house in Dingle in August and have had problems with the boiler pretty much since day 1. It stank of unburnt kerosene fuel when it was run; had it serviced and the serviceman removed just years worth of accumulated crap, he also found the plates were installed backwards, replaced 1 of the jets and so on. This improved things a lot, but still some smell. We then were away for a couple months, came back, cranked it up last week, and the smell is still there. Had him out again, he did a bit more cleaning and sealed the unit with a bead of silicone.

Smell is still there. As far as we know, the previous owner didn't use it or rarely used it. I say this because we found the fuel tank off its support legs, missing one of the caps and once emptied we found about 50% water/50% fuel. The fireplace had been used (it, too, needed work but that's a different thread.) We think the owner used the fireplace and heated water for washing using the electric heater built into the hot water tank that's run via a (broken) immermat timer.

The Firebird's maybe 10 years old. Have had experience in the US with oil burners, I am wondering, if this unit is 10 years old and not well maintained (the serviceman thought by the looks of things it had been several years since service was last done on it), should we simply replace it? And, is there a better unit we should look into? What about gas (propane? Butane?) vs. Kerosene? Natural gas isn't available, but some of the neighbors have propane. Another expensive possibility is electric heat, is that a crazy thing to consider?

Thanks,

Igotadose

In the absence of natural gas, I would stick with oil. Unless your current boiler is really bad it can be repaired and NOT with silicone. What exactly is wrong with it? Is it indoors? Did you get a flue gas analysis when serviced? Can you post a few pics.

jimf

would agree with wearb silicone says it all im afraid

Igotadose

Thanks for the replies.

The gas analysis was 'good' as I remember- the serviceman on the 2nd visit made sure it was well above 80% (again, I am doing this from memory.)

I have had some experience with fuel oil burners in the US. There, the 'flame chamber' is the bit where all the mixing & burning takes place, and over time, they need to be replaced. Nowadays, with the fancy US condensing high-efficiency (over 90%) burners, they're different, but it seems to me the Firebird is kind of an older design compared to, say, a modern US Weill-McClain.
I am not a plumber, and its been a long time since I replaced a fuel-oil burner, having had natural gas available in the last house (10+years).

Sorry, don't have any pictures. Is 10 years the normal lifespan for one of these units? Is there another manufacturer I should look into?

Thanks again for the info everyone, this really helps a lot!

scudo2

There should be NO smell off ANY oil boiler serviced correctly.
You should be able to comfortably put your head close to the flue exhaust and comfortably breath ( not long term ) !!

After 2002/3 Firebird made a reasonably good efficient standard boiler compared to it's predessor, which was not great, efficiency wise, but still shouldn't smell, might burn your head with wasted heath though !

20+ years lifespan
30+ not unusual

Dtp1979

Igotadose wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

The gas analysis was 'good' as I remember- the serviceman on the 2nd visit made sure it was well above 80% (again, I am doing this from memory.)

I have had some experience with fuel oil burners in the US. There, the 'flame chamber' is the bit where all the mixing & burning takes place, and over time, they need to be replaced. Nowadays, with the fancy US condensing high-efficiency (over 90%) burners, they're different, but it seems to me the Firebird is kind of an older design compared to, say, a modern US Weill-McClain.
I am not a plumber, and its been a long time since I replaced a fuel-oil burner, having had natural gas available in the last house (10+years).

Sorry, don't have any pictures. Is 10 years the normal lifespan for one of these units? Is there another manufacturer I should look into?

Thanks again for the info everyone, this really helps a lot!

Yes look into the grant vortex boiler.

agusta

No, Your boiler is not old at 10 years,It will run for many many years to come if you get what ever issues with it sorted correctly.There is no reason why the smell issue cant be sorted.
Your boiler probally requires new gaskets,new seals,new flexible oil hose,set up with a flue gas analyser and CO room safety test with flue gas analyser.The boiler can be serviced at a low enough cost so that it runs like new

Billy Bunting

Igotadose wrote: »

Nowadays, with the fancy US condensing high-efficiency (over 90%) burners, they're different, but it seems to me the Firebird is kind of an older design compared to, say, a modern US Weill-McClain.

Sounds like your Weill-McClain is a bit of a toy when compared with our Vortex. :P
The Firebird should be just fine if serviced correctly and set up with the use of a FGA, obviously by someone capable of using one, from your comments I would question the capability of your "Serviceman". :eek:

Igotadose

I believe the FGA was used - he had a meter he was using to measure efficiency and made adjustments to the burners (as far as I know) during the work. However, I don't believe any of the gaskets, etc were replaced. Thanks again for the info. Oh, the Grant sounds a *lot* like the Weill-McClain, condensing stainless steel lined, I remember having to run a stainless steel vent line to the outdoors. This was in 1985.

Any recommendations for servicemen in West Kerry? The fellow I am using seems competent, was recommended by the fuel oil guys.

Thanks again!