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Oil boiler/burner not working - long weekend without heat ahead unless......!

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  • 25-10-2019 10:06pm
    #1
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭


    Moved house two years ago. House about 20 years old so by look of it the oils boiler /burner is the same age. It’s been working fine this past two winters but today it simply won’t fire up......it makes an humming sound but the fan fails to start as does the flame.....plenty of oil and no air locks present. I know the obvious thing to do is get a service but not much hope of that until next tuesday at earliest.....I’ve read on other sites that it could be a ‘capacitor ‘ issue.....has anyone else any ideas. It’s a grant type oil boiler that heats 13 radiators and burns kerosene.


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    #2
    mrskinner
    Registered Users Posts: 387 ✭✭mrskinner


    Can you locate the photocell. Just give it a wipe and you should be okay.


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    #3
    KK4SAM
    Registered Users Posts: 735 ✭✭✭KK4SAM


    Could you uncouple the Pump end and try and turn it from there to see if its mechanically impeeded ?


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    #4
    jimf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,950 ✭✭✭jimf


    a capacitor

    b seized motor

    c fuel pump


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    #5
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭Road-Hog


    mrskinner wrote: »
    Can you locate the photocell. Just give it a wipe and you should be okay.

    Didn’t check that yet. Where might it be....!


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    #6
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭Road-Hog


    KK4SAM wrote: »
    Could you uncouple the Pump end and try and turn it from there to see if its mechanically impeeded ?

    Will give this a go tomorrow plus the photocell check......if it’s the capacitor where would I get one of those


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    #7
    jimf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,950 ✭✭✭jimf


    Road-Hog wrote: »
    Didn’t check that yet. Where might it be....!

    its not the photocell causing your issue

    photocell doesn't cause motor/fan not to start


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    #8
    KaneToad
    Registered Users Posts: 3,162 ✭✭✭KaneToad


    Road-Hog wrote: »
    Didn’t check that yet. Where might it be....!

    Depends on the boiler model. But, in general, it will be ready accessible and in a plastic/rubber housing that will have to be pulled/unscrewed from boiler. Google your boiler make and you should find it easy enough. 2 min job to clean it.


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    #9
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭Road-Hog


    jimf wrote: »
    its not the photocell causing your issue

    photocell doesn't cause motor/fan not to start

    Gave it another try a few mins ago and it has now fired up again. I did dismantle / uncouple the burner from boiler earlier and gave everything a good clean and put everything back again but initially there was no change. Now approx ten mins ago it’s all working again but it sounds a slight bit different than normal. Something is obviously ‘about to go’ I’ll set it for the Am and see if it fires up again and hopefully it will be ok for next few days and I’ll get a service early next week...!

    Boiler / burner is a ‘Grant Euroflame’.....?


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    #10
    Avns1s
    Registered Users Posts: 3,422 ✭✭✭Avns1s


    Change the jet / nozzle and see if that sorts it.


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    #11
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    Avns1s wrote: »
    Change the jet / nozzle and see if that sorts it.

    Nozzel and photocells do not prevent the motor from turning, read JimF's posts above.


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    #12
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭Road-Hog


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    Nozzel and photocells do not prevent the motor from turning, read JimF's posts above.

    Could it be a capacitor issue so....?


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    #13
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    Road-Hog wrote: »
    Could it be a capacitor issue so....?

    Most likely a capacitor breaking down. As jimf said, but it could also be the motor or fuel pump.
    Don't go out buying a nozzle, its not the problem and please do not be tempted to try adjusting anything on the fuel pump or the air intake damper.


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    #14
    Road-Hog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,412 ✭✭✭Road-Hog


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    Most likely a capacitor breaking down. As jimf said, but it could also be the motor or fuel pump.
    Don't go out buying a nozzle, its not the problem and please do not be tempted to try adjusting anything on the fuel pump or the air intake damper.

    Still working today so should hopefully get the weekend out of it now. Will get an expert at it during the coming week. Thanks for all the advice.


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