Most efficient setting for a Firebird oil boiler?

embraer170 wrote: »

My parents have a Firebird Combi Enviromx oil boiler installed outside the house. It is heating about 4/5 rooms downstairs and 2/3 rooms upstairs.

Inside the house, you have an on/off switch. If you open the boiler outside, you can change the power settings but this isn't something you would want to do everyday.

Right now it seems to be set reasonably high so that a few minutes after you turn on the heating, the radiators are absolutely boiling hot. A

I wonder if it makes more sense to have a lower setting and run it for longer instead?

Run it at the lowest setting that gives you a decent heatup time for the rads. If it has been correctly sized, that should need to be above halfway in cold weather. If it is oversized, turning it down low will only cause it to go on and off very often (cylcing) and wont save you anything.

With a condensing oil boiler, if it is correctly sized, it should be near the high mark in freezing conditions and near the low in summer and in-between those in conditions between those weather extremes. That is what a weather compensator does automatically.

If unsure, set it at a half way.

jimf wrote: »

is the boiler recently installed firebird have been having problems with there stats recently

if as the lads has suggested above don't lower your rad temp to a more acceptable level it may be worth getting checked out

Are they sticking Jim?

jimf wrote: »

control stat not working properly going way over set temp and tripping hl sometimes not failing completely just way out of zinc

ive only seen one myself 2 years old and out of warranty

If failing after only 2 years they should replace it warranty or not.

jimf wrote: »

I commissioned the boiler from new and serviced it the following year

when she had a hl trip this year she phoned me on checking it was a stat issue I advised it may be worth trying for a warranty fix

as I don't do warranty for fb she just wanted it fixed asap which I changed during a routine service adding 30 eu to the service charge

Maybe it was just a once off then and not a general FB stat issue.

jimf wrote: »

I have a friend who does warranty for them and he told me only last week he is getting quite a few calls with stat issues

imit stats are not as reliable as they used to be

Another headache to cause callbacks through no fault of our own. Do you have any trouble getting the control stat only or do u buy the complete dual stat?

jimf wrote: »

heatmerchants in limerick stock them

so easily available

Have only had to buy one in recent times. I didn't have one with me and closest shop only sold complete dual unit. I have a few spares in the shed. I sometimes come across them (whole unit) discarded in the boiler house and I bring them with me and save the working side.