back boiler problem..

catonthewire

Hi,

I moved into a new house just before Christmas, there is an open fire with working back boiler plus oil central.heating..
The fire didn't heat the radiators sufficiently so have been burning oil..
A few days ago we noticed a foul smell coming from the back boiler when the oil has been on , usually after an hour...

It smells disgusting and stops as soon as heating is switched off...
Any ideas?...
Thanks in advance...

Dtp1979

catonthewire wrote: »

Hi,

I moved into a new house just before Christmas, there is an open fire with working back boiler plus oil central.heating..
The fire didn't heat the radiators sufficiently so have been burning oil..
A few days ago we noticed a foul smell coming from the back boiler when the oil has been on , usually after an hour...

It smells disgusting and stops as soon as heating is switched off...
Any ideas?...
Thanks in advance...

When the oil is on for 30 mins, is the back boiler becoming warm at all?

catonthewire

Yes it gets warm very quickly, I just turned the heating off again as the smell is disgusting , it doesn't happen when I use the fire to heat the radiators?..

jimf

sounds like your central heating may also be heating your back boiler which may have a bad soot residue if so this may be the smell you are getting

sky6

If it's a new build It might sound silly but are you sure there is Water in the Gravity / Back boiler system.
Is there any valves closed. Is it air locked. Are they interlinked properly.

Dtp1979

catonthewire wrote: »

Yes it gets warm very quickly, I just turned the heating off again as the smell is disgusting , it doesn't happen when I use the fire to heat the radiators?..

I'm thinking the same as jimf. Either that or there's a dead bird or rodent on it or behind it. What kind of smell is it?

catonthewire

Honestly?..

I have no idea, the house is about twenty years old, was told the back boiler was in good working order, the central heating was put in about 12 years ago..
Am going to call the letting agent on Monday, but worried about putting the heating on until it's sorted..

jimf

does your back boiler have a moveable damper plate if this is in the closed position the flames as such cant go through the boiler thus very poor performance

can you post a photo of your back boiler

catonthewire

Dtp1979 wrote: »

I'm thinking the same as jimf. Either that or there's a dead bird or rodent on it or behind it. What kind of smell is it?

Smells like rotten eggs, and a burning smell...

catonthewire

jimf wrote: »

does your back boiler have a moveable damper plate if this is in the closed position the flames as such cant go through the boiler thus very poor performance

can you post a photo of your back boiler

Yes it has a moveable damper, the radiators upstairs heat perfectly but downstairs poorly, reason I was using the oil..

jimf

could well be as dtp suggested re dead bird/rodent when the fire is lighting you will have a good draw on the chimney pulling any offending smells up and away

Dtp1979

catonthewire wrote: »

Smells like rotten eggs, and a burning smell...

Maybe they'res rotten eggs in there
I'd say leave it off until it's sorted. God knows what's causing it. One thing for sure, your oil shouldn't be heating the back boiler. Get that sorted cause every time you turn on the oil it's costing you Extra money to heat the volume of water in the back boiler

sky6

So it's not anew house. Then most likely as said a dead rodent or bird. Once seen a new build that had a dead Fox under the floor. No smell when the family moved in but after a couple of Weeks the smell was unbearable. They had to move out while the smell was being investigated.

jimf

I think this would be a good one for egass13 to cut his teeth on get those little handies dirty

then lets see that little lady that does his nails work her magic

catonthewire

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Maybe they'res rotten eggs in there
I'd say leave it off until it's sorted. God knows what's causing it. One thing for sure, your oil shouldn't be heating the back boiler. Get that sorted cause every time you turn on the oil it's costing you Extra money to heat the volume of water in the back boiler

Lol....
Will call the agent on Monday..
Thanks..

catonthewire

jimf wrote: »

I think this would be a good one for egass13 to cut his teeth on get those little handies dirty

then lets see that little lady that does his nails work her magic

????

Dtp1979

catonthewire wrote: »

????

Private Ish joke. Poor jimf is making fun of Egass. He's obviously never stood beside him :0

Egass13

jimf wrote: »

I think this would be a good one for egass13 to cut his teeth on get those little handies dirty

then lets see that little lady that does his nails work her magic

Haha no thanks , my hands are as soft as a man half my age ! But my brain is fairly battered if thats any consolation

jimf

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Private Ish joke. Poor jimf is making fun of Egass. He's obviously never stood beside him :0

don't worry I have been warned by a certain Kilkenny man not to fancy my chances :eek::eek:

but maybe he might forgive me this time :o