Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Burner will not fire!

jmob77
jmob77 Member Posts: 39
in Domestic Hot Water
Hello, all. I have a two-zone hot water system that just had a clean bill of health from the plumber who came in to replace a corroded, leaky feeder and a bad gauge.
I've been trying to run it on some chilly nights to no avail. Pilot is lit, pump is running, everything seems to be as it should, but the burner does not fire when the thermostat kicks in.

Is there anything obvious I may be missing before calling the plumber back in?

BTW-There is a pair of black wires with terminal clips connected to nothing coming out of the top of the boiler. Did my guy forget to reconnect something, or are these for some other purpose?

Many thanks,

John
Brooklyn, NY

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,330
    I'd bet that's your problem. Those wires are probably for a blocked-flue switch that is mounted on the draft hood (looks like either a mushroom or a box with the smoke pipe connected to it). See it you can find a small device with a pair of terminals on it.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • jmob77
    jmob77 Member Posts: 39
    Found the terminals! How will I know if I have the proper polarity? There is a schematic on the access panel, but I'm not totally sure what I'm looking for.
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,463
    Most likely it is just a switch wire, in which case it doesn't matter which wire goes on which terminal.
    Rick
  • 1hoteatech
    1hoteatech Member Posts: 5
    Yeah sounds like the t-stat wires are not connected, do you have a primary control or an old stack switch?
  • jmob77
    jmob77 Member Posts: 39
    Just a stack switch, I think: a switch embedded in the flue hood with two terminals sticking out. No control unit.
  • jmob77
    jmob77 Member Posts: 39
    Problem solved! Connected those wires and it works like a dream; thanks to all...
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,262
    The plumber who gave this thing a "clean bill of health" must not have fired it before he left. If the homeowner found the wires, the serviceman should have noticed them not connected. :*
  • delta T
    delta T Member Posts: 884
    I am a little curious why they were disconnected in the first place...
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Maybe for a chargeable call back? Stranger things have happened!
  • jmob77
    jmob77 Member Posts: 39
    Definitely gives me pause as to how thorough this plumber is.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,262
    Did he clean the boiler or flue pipe? That might be some saving grace for him......however most techs would not leave the site without firing it up. It is really embarrassing to, for instance leave the power switch/CB turned off, and then get a call back and hopefully the owner would turn the switch on.....makes you feel like dumb or dumber.
    delta T
  • delta T
    delta T Member Posts: 884
    JUGHNE said:

    Did he clean the boiler or flue pipe? That might be some saving grace for him......however most techs would not leave the site without firing it up. It is really embarrassing to, for instance leave the power switch/CB turned off, and then get a call back and hopefully the owner would turn the switch on.....makes you feel like dumb or dumber.

    It does happen to all of us at some point, but usually only once. It is definitely embarassing. I always leave the boiler firing as I am picking everything up. That way you KNOW its all good, and you get a chance to watch it and see the temp and pressure, hear any weird sounds, smell any weird smells, notice a relief valve dripping, or any other problem that was not immediately apparent during your repair or service.

Categories