Oil fired boiler problem

laighinlad

I'm sorry if this topic has come up previously. Over the past year I've followed a few threads here to try and get to the bottom of my boiler problems a couple of months ago it seemed to be sorted but now its not firing again. 12 year old Grant oil boiler running well until last October when it began playing up, not firing, or firing and blowing and cutting out. Probably hadn't been serviced for about 6 years. I'd a plumber doing some rads who opened it up and cleaned it replaced the combustion head ran for a couple of days then cut out again. Replaced some of the near boiler pipe work that had become blocked worked for a week and stopped again, he installed a new thermostat, new circulating pump (which failed after 3 weeks as the system had been "running dry"?). It was running fine until May this year and conked out again. An engineer pal of mine looked it over, replaced the photo-cell, changed the nozzle grand for a few weeks then cut out. He took out the solenoid valve said it was 'sticking' he oiled it up, put it back and its been grand until today, when it wouldn't start up, I reset the stat on it and it fired up fine and has but I noticed that some of the red housing around the Reillo has melted! So I've knocked it off completely until me mate can come have a look at it again. Problem is we've no heat at all, our open fire has a back boiler that's probably 30 years old and its been making noise (kettling?) so we haven't lit the fire in two weeks. The boiler is becoming a bit like Trigger's broom in Only Fools and Horses, other than the initial problem I don't know whats left of the original boiler anymore. I'm not sure if we should just punt for a completely new boiler or try and resolve this ongoing intermittent problem. Thanks in advance.

agusta

laighinlad wrote: »

I'm sorry if this topic has come up previously. Over the past year I've followed a few threads here to try and get to the bottom of my boiler problems a couple of months ago it seemed to be sorted but now its not firing again. 12 year old Grant oil boiler running well until last October when it began playing up, not firing, or firing and blowing and cutting out. Probably hadn't been serviced for about 6 years. I'd a plumber doing some rads who opened it up and cleaned it replaced the combustion head ran for a couple of days then cut out again. Replaced some of the near boiler pipe work that had become blocked worked for a week and stopped again, he installed a new thermostat, new circulating pump (which failed after 3 weeks as the system had been "running dry"?). It was running fine until May this year and conked out again. An engineer pal of mine looked it over, replaced the photo-cell, changed the nozzle grand for a few weeks then cut out. He took out the solenoid valve said it was 'sticking' he oiled it up, put it back and its been grand until today, when it wouldn't start up, I reset the stat on it and it fired up fine and has but I noticed that some of the red housing around the Reillo has melted! So I've knocked it off completely until me mate can come have a look at it again. Problem is we've no heat at all, our open fire has a back boiler that's probably 30 years old and its been making noise (kettling?) so we haven't lit the fire in two weeks. The boiler is becoming a bit like Trigger's broom in Only Fools and Horses, other than the initial problem I don't know whats left of the original boiler anymore. I'm not sure if we should just punt for a completely new boiler or try and resolve this ongoing intermittent problem. Thanks in advance.

The back boiler and the oil boiler are linked.resetting the boiler stat and the back boiler kettling means there is very low water/air in the system.its a plumbing issue to your heating system.

The boiler and riello burner needs to be serviced by a competent technician with specialist equipment

Wearb

Did anybody do a flue gas analysis? Did anyone set pump pressure? Sounds like you have a flue gas leak also.

agusta

Wearb wrote: »

Did anybody do a flue gas analysis? Did anyone set pump pressure? Sounds like you have a flue gas leak also.

Plus a potential fire hazard i would think

Wearb

agusta wrote: »

Plus a potential fire hazard i would think

At least he’s knocked it off. To me it seems like no proper service guy has looked at it and op had been unfortunate to have had two different people guessing at the problem.

laighinlad

Wearb and Agusta thanks for the replies, yep I agree to all of the above. The first guy (plumber) completely clearly didn't recognise his limitations or what the thing really needed and just wanted me euros! The 'service' he performed came no where near the level I've just been reading about over on the Oil Boiler Servicing thread. The second guy is guessing alright, granted he's got it working but the issue still occurring, if its not even worse now that the plastic housing around the Reillo has melted. I very much doubt the boiler has ever had a flue gas analysis, it certainly hasn't since we bought the house and inherited the boiler. Think I'll 'plumb' for a full and proper inspection/service as Wearb says by a "competent technician with specialist equipment" Can either of you point me in the direction of a tech in the North Tipp area. Thanks again.

jimf

what area exactly are you in

Wearb

laighinlad wrote: »

Wearb and Agusta thanks for the replies, yep I agree to all of the above. The first guy (plumber) completely clearly didn't recognise his limitations or what the thing really needed and just wanted me euros! The 'service' he performed came no where near the level I've just been reading about over on the Oil Boiler Servicing thread. The second guy is guessing alright, granted he's got it working but the issue still occurring, if its not even worse now that the plastic housing around the Reillo has melted. I very much doubt the boiler has ever had a flue gas analysis, it certainly hasn't since we bought the house and inherited the boiler. Think I'll 'plumb' for a full and proper inspection/service as Wearb says by a "competent technician with specialist equipment" Can either of you point me in the direction of a tech in the North Tipp area. Thanks again.

I don’t know the area, but google oil boiler service and see if you can ding someone who does this full time.

Btw. In my experience plumbers who are out of their dept with oil boiler trouble shooting are just trying to do their best and not just trying to take your money.

agusta

It a plumbing issue first..,Low water level in the system.its a plumber you need first, then a boiler service issue.

laighinlad

jimf wrote: »

what area exactly are you in

Ballina Co Tipp

laighinlad

It appears now that my back boiler is a big issue too - dangerous plumbing and is very unsafe to use! "no water pipe from the top of the boiler"!?!

JamesM

laighinlad wrote: »

Ballina Co Tipp

Knowledgeable friendly guy. Lives just across the river from you. http://www.rgii.ie/home/flanagan-heating-service.6791.html

laighinlad

JamesM wrote: »

Knowledgeable friendly guy. Lives just across the river from you. http://www.rgii.ie/home/flanagan-heating-service.6791.html

Thanks for that recommendation - I got in touch with John and he came out last week. Full service and FGA the lot, good guy. All was working grand until last night the water just blew out of the boiler and flooded the area around it. Not the first time this has happened. Trying to get a plumber now. Will update again once we know what has caused it.

laighinlad

Seems one of the joints wasn't tight enough and the came undone - tightened it up and got it running again but it was air-locked and cut out - finally got the air out, then vented each rad and started it up and BINGO she's running again, for now!